Key facts
- Kemi Badenoch is remaking the Conservative Party in her own image, moving away from centrist ideas.
- The party has announced policies such as free childcare for high earners and barring non-Britons from social housing.
- Some within the party worry that the current policy direction risks alienating centrist voters and reviving the 'nasty party' image.
- Despite a more unified mood, the Conservatives remain distant in opinion polls.
- Badenoch's personal popularity is seen as a key asset for the party.
Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, is actively reshaping the party's direction, signaling a move away from centrist ideas and focusing on a right-leaning agenda. She has described herself as the new captain, coach, and owner of the party, indicating a strong personal control over policy decisions. This approach includes initiatives like granting free childcare to individuals earning over £100,000, a policy Badenoch reportedly enacted based on her own convictions rather than voter targeting.
Despite a more unified party conference and Badenoch's personal popularity, concerns persist within the Conservative ranks. Some MPs and shadow ministers worry that the party's current policy focus, which includes measures such as barring non-Britons from social housing and cutting benefits, risks alienating centrist voters and potentially reviving the 'nasty party' image, a term previously used by Theresa May. There is a sentiment that the party needs to attract voters from various political leanings, not just those on the right who have moved to Reform UK.
Sources within the party suggest that Badenoch's control is extensive, with policy decisions viewed as 'tablets of stone' and difficult to alter. Her prominent role at the party conference, where she was a central figure, underscores her influence. While the party's position in opinion polls remains significantly behind, and a general election tomorrow would likely result in a substantial defeat, Badenoch's leadership is considered secure for now. This stability is partly attributed to the departure of dissenters to Reform UK and the reduced size of the parliamentary party, which limits internal factions.