Key facts
- Kemi Badenoch's personal approval ratings as Conservative Party leader have risen significantly.
- 38% of Britons approve of Badenoch's performance, with 43% seeing her as decisive and 40% as competent.
- The Conservative Party's overall polling numbers remain low, with only one in five Britons believing they are ready to govern.
- Party strategists plan to center their autumn campaign around Badenoch.
- The upcoming Conservative Party conference will be more focused on Badenoch's leadership.
- Badenoch is reportedly driving the party's economic strategy.
Tory strategists are planning to elevate Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch this autumn, capitalizing on her rising personal popularity, which significantly outstrips her party's standing. Recent YouGov polling indicates that 38 percent of Britons approve of Badenoch's performance, a 23-point increase from the previous October. She is also viewed as decisive by 43 percent and competent by 40 percent of the public.
Despite Badenoch's personal success, the Conservative Party continues to struggle in the polls, with only one in five Britons believing the party is prepared to govern. This lack of broader party trust is a significant challenge, especially with the emergence of Andy Burnham as a more popular adversary. To address this, strategists aim to place Badenoch at the forefront of the party's messaging.
The upcoming Conservative Party conference in Birmingham is expected to be heavily focused on Badenoch, building on her impactful performance last year. Plans suggest a shift away from extensive policy discussions towards highlighting Badenoch as a distinct alternative to Burnham, who is perceived by some as lacking firm principles. The strategy is to portray Badenoch as a leader guided by strong convictions.
Economically, the party hopes to leverage the Burnham administration's upcoming budget, scheduled for October 28, to promote their own "sound" economic vision. Badenoch's response to the previous year's budget was notably viral and is considered a turning point in public perception. She is reportedly the primary decision-maker on economic strategy, rather than Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride. Badenoch recently discussed shaping a right-wing economic vision, including retaining wealthy individuals in the country, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The Conservative Party's position has also been indirectly bolstered by recent difficulties faced by Reform UK and its leader, Nigel Farage, who has encountered questions regarding donation declarations. The Conservatives view Farage's entanglement in the Clacton by-election as an opportunity for Badenoch to be the primary critic of Burnham. Badenoch's firm stance against a potential pact with Reform UK, calling it "monstrous," signals an intention to consolidate the right flank of the political spectrum.