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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is set to deliver a key address on the final day of her party’s annual conference in Birmingham, where she is expected to frame British politics as facing a fundamental “battle of ideas.” She plans to emphasize the stark ideological divide between the Conservative Party and the current Labour government, stating that these differences go “to the very core of what kind of country we want to be.”
Throughout the conference, Badenoch has aimed to reshape public perception of the Conservatives, whose standing in the polls has yet to recover since the last general election. The party has put forward a series of policy proposals, including a £10 billion investment in the UK’s air defence system and plans to reduce employer National Insurance contributions for 21 to 24-year-olds. In her upcoming speech, Badenoch will describe the next general election as “a battle for the soul of this nation,” drawing a clear contrast between Conservative ideals and those of the Labour government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
In pre-released excerpts of her speech, Badenoch criticizes Labour for wanting to “wind back the clock to failed ideas of the past,” accusing them of believing economic growth is driven by politicians and that the government should control people’s income, pensions, and savings. She contends that although Labour may claim their policies are compassionate, they will ultimately lead to higher taxes and a weaker economy trapped in a “doom loop.” In contrast, she will insist that the Conservative Party believes “what people earn belongs to them, not government,” with economic growth as the “central organising principle” of a future Conservative administration.
The Labour Party has responded by highlighting what they see as the Conservatives’ track record of economic mismanagement during their 14 years in government. Chancellor John Healey has said that all government promises will rest “on the rock of fiscal discipline,” with the upcoming Budget on 28 October designed to provide relief to families and businesses. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have announced several policy initiatives, including Badenoch’s proposal to cut employer National Insurance contributions on wages for young workers from 15% to 7.5%, targeting starter jobs to improve employment opportunities for around one million young people currently not in education, employment, or training. This policy would apply to earnings up to £50,270 and is estimated to cost £2.3 billion, with details on funding expected soon. Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith has also indicated plans to remove certain taxes, such as the “mansion tax” and the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, if the Conservatives regain power. Additionally, Badenoch is anticipated to propose a reduction in the 40% inheritance tax rate, reinforcing her portrayal of the party as a “renewed Conservative Party fighting again for the belief that what people earn belongs to them, not government.” In an interview with BBC political editor Chris Mason, she asserted that “we are going back to the authentic Conservative Party, that people knew and loved.
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