Badenoch gets breathing space, but Tories must prove their direction
Britain’s Conservative Party begins its party conference today with a stronger leader and a difficult electoral task.
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Kemi Badenoch begins the British Conservatives’ party conference in Birmingham on Sunday from a stronger position than a year ago. According to published opinion polls, the party is still performing poorly and must distinguish itself from both Labour and Reform UK.
The conference runs from Sunday through Wednesday. Badenoch presents her party as renewed and different from the Conservatives who lost the 2024 election. According to ITV, she stressed on arrival that the Tories have new plans and are no longer the same party they were two years ago.
Calm around her leadership has increased. The Guardian writes that Badenoch has built more authority within the party over the past year and that her approval ratings have improved. A year ago, Conservative MPs still feared a new leadership contest, according to the newspaper.
That improvement does not mean the party has electoral certainty. According to ITV, the Conservatives trail Labour and Reform UK in public opinion. The Guardian describes the party as still burdened by an image of incompetence and division, even though some voters may rate Badenoch personally more highly.
Badenoch is trying to focus her message more on the economy. According to the official conference agenda, the event forms part of the party’s renewal. The Guardian reports that party strategists are urging less emphasis on culture wars and more on the economy and public services. The conference slogan is: Stronger economy, stronger country.
Reform UK remains the main competitor on the right. The Conservatives must win back voters who find tougher positions on immigration and culture appealing, but, according to their own moderate wing, must not become a copy of Reform. Earlier defections by Conservative politicians to Reform have increased the pressure on Badenoch.
For Dutch readers, the key point is that British party politics is shifting further towards a struggle over the right flank and economic direction. The party that was once the dominant centre-right force in the United Kingdom must show that it can be both a recognisable alternative and a credible party of government. The conference is a first public test of that, not an election result.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Britain’s Conservative Party is holding its conference in Birmingham from 4 to 7 October.
- Kemi Badenoch is party leader and presents the Tories as renewed.
- According to public reporting, the party trails Labour and Reform UK in the polls.
- The Conservatives are trying to define their economic direction and position on the right flank more sharply.
Left
Arguments The Tories should invest in public services and social security instead of mainly trying to win voters through culture wars and tax cuts. A moderate opposition can break Reform’s pressure without moving further to the right.
Values Public services, social equality and protection for workers.
Consequences Such a course may attract new voters, but could alienate Conservative voters who want tougher positions on migration and security.
Centre
Arguments The party needs a credible combination of economic discipline, administrative competence and realistic reforms. The centre seeks a combination of lower burdens, affordable public services and controllable migration.
Values Stability, feasibility and trust in institutions.
Consequences A broad course may make the party appear fit for government, but risks becoming unclear if the party does not set priorities.
Right
Arguments The Conservatives must clearly distance themselves from Labour and Reform by drawing sharper limits on taxes, public spending and migration. From this perspective, a strong leader is needed who does not shy away from unpopular choices.
Values Individual responsibility, national control and a smaller government.
Consequences A clear right-wing course could win voters back from Reform, but increases the risk that the party will lose moderate voters.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The description of the conference and Badenoch’s remarks has been confirmed by ITV and the party itself. The assessment of her stronger position and the electoral challenge is attributed to the sources as analysis.
- confirmed The Conservative Party conference takes place in Birmingham from 4 to 7 October. — The official party website gives this location and these dates. source
- confirmed Badenoch calls the Conservative Party renewed and different from its 2024 version. — ITV quotes her remarks on arrival at the conference. source
- confirmed The Conservatives trail Labour and Reform UK in public opinion. — ITV describes this position on the basis of published polls. source
- confirmed Badenoch’s position within the party is stronger than a year ago. — The Guardian describes improved approval ratings and greater authority, but says her position is not completely secure. source
- confirmed The conference agenda is focused on party renewal. — The official party website calls the conference an important event in the party’s renewal. source
Editor's note
The start of the conference, Badenoch’s remarks and the described position relative to Labour and Reform UK are certain. Polls and interpretations of her leadership are snapshots in time and not predictions of election results.Sources
- Tories renewed and different since 2024 defeat, says Badenoch before conference — ITV News
- Badenoch returns to Conservative conference much stronger than a year ago — The Guardian
- Conservative Party Conference 2026 — Conservative Party
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „verenigd koninkrijk”
- AD — „verenigd koninkrijk”
- de Volkskrant — „verenigd koninkrijk”