Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party of the UK, enters the party conference with a positive spirit and hope for the future. Badenoch, who took over party leadership in 2024 after the worst general election result in its history, can now point to several positive factors including disarray among main rivals, acceptable personal ratings, and clear lines of distinction with the Labour Party.
Improved polls and internal competition
YouGov polls from last month show that 32 percent of voters have a positive view of Badenoch, while 47 percent rate her negatively. Although this result is not particularly strong, it has improved by 20 points compared to last year and her negative score of 15. This result gradually supports the theory that the more people see Badenoch, the more they become interested in her.
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Badenoch currently faces a lack of serious internal rivals, especially after Robert Jenrick left for the right-wing populist party 'Reform UK' earlier this year. Jenrick, who had lost the Conservative leadership contest in 2024, was aggressively trying to seize Badenoch's position, but his sudden departure to Nigel Farage's party worked in Badenoch's favor.
Challenges and opportunities against the Labour Party
Badenoch's presence at the party conference also comes with other challenges and opportunities. The main competition for the Conservative Party with 'Reform UK' was clearly evident in the results of the local elections in May, but this seems to be shifting in favor of the Conservatives now. Nigel Farage has faced significant criticism regarding the financial state of his party, which has helped Badenoch's return to the political scene.
Badenoch has attempted to compete with the Labour Party under the leadership of Andy Burnham by reshaping her shadow cabinet at the end of summer. She is also trying to strengthen her party's position by introducing Andrew Griffith as shadow Chancellor. Griffith, who has a long history in the private sector, is considered a strong option despite Labour's criticisms.
Badenoch has also responded to Burnham's criticisms of the 'triple lock', which guarantees significant annual increases for retirees, stating that this proposal cannot provide sufficient savings for a national care system. These criticisms allow Badenoch to emerge as a serious competitor against the Labour Party.
Despite Badenoch's improved personal standing, the Conservative Party still lags in national polls and does not seem likely to achieve the necessary majority in the House of Commons ahead of the next election. However, the party conference could provide an opportunity for rebuilding and strengthening the party's position.
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