Kemi Badenoch has positioned herself as a "classic old school Conservative" as she launches her party's annual conference with a series of policy announcements and a 100-page statement outlining her political philosophy.
"I believe in common sense, people working hard and being rewarded for that effort,"she told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg. She went on to characterise welfare as something that should function as a
"safety net, not a lifestyle".
The Conservative leader is working to distinguish her party within a competitive political landscape. The Conservatives currently trail both Labour and Reform UK in polling and have not yet recovered from their decisive defeat in the 2024 general election.
Badenoch, whose personal approval ratings exceed those of her party, has dismissed Reform leader Nigel Farage as a
"grumpy grandpa"and described Labour leader Andy Burnham as
"the cheesy uncle who does all the dad jokes"."By contrast, she characterised herself as a
"no-nonsense mum"."
How does Badenoch respond to accusations of returning to harsh policies?
When pressed on whether her proposals for welfare reductions and a substantial expansion of prison capacity represented a return to the
"nasty party"label from the past, Badenoch rejected the characterisation.
"It's the common sense party. That's what we're doing."She continued:
"And, quite frankly, if we were doing so well the old way, then why did we have such a terrible issue in 2024?"
What are the Conservatives' core principles?
Badenoch has published a 100-page document titled "The Right Way", deliberately mirroring Margaret Thatcher's 1976 essay "The Right Approach". In this statement, she argues that the previous Conservative government faltered because it lacked a clear sense of purpose.
Despite the party's messaging during its 14 years in office, Badenoch contends that
"We did little to reverse the structural changes Labour had made which took the country in the wrong direction. The result was that the state grew by stealth."
The document identifies several strategic failures in the party's recent record. According to reporting on the statement, Britain's problems included promising lower immigration without a delivery strategy, legislating for Net Zero without an economically feasible route, and leaving the EU without an accompanying economic plan.
The essay establishes a central governing principle:
"business, not government, creates growth"."The Conservatives intend to pursue growth through tax reductions, deregulation, and restoring the civil service to pre-pandemic staffing levels.
The document emphasises the need for political leadership willing to make difficult choices. It states:
"What is really missing from politics and government today is people prepared to say no. Political parties now need to recruit those who have the stomach to say no to good causes when the resources simply are not there to do everything."
What childcare changes are the Conservatives proposing?
As the conference begins in Birmingham, the Conservatives have announced plans to eliminate a childcare "cliff edge" that currently prevents parents earning above £100,000 from accessing support. According to details released alongside the policy announcement, the proposal would provide 30 hours of free childcare per week to parents working at least 16 hours, with an estimated annual cost of £700m.
What other major policies has the party committed to?
The Conservatives have pledged to create 50,000 new prison places by redirecting the overseas aid budget to £1bn annually, aiming to reduce early prisoner releases. This represents a significant expansion compared to the previous 14 years in government, when approximately 500 net prison places were added—a figure that accounts for 14,142 places created in existing and new facilities offset by 13,660 lost primarily through deterioration and closures.
Beyond prison expansion, the party has proposed tightening access to student loans for non-UK nationals, claiming the change could save £900m annually. Badenoch has also signalled openness to inheritance tax modifications if they meet fiscal responsibility standards, describing such a reduction as
"morally right"."
How has Labour responded to Badenoch's vision?
Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson has criticised the Conservative approach, stating that the party
"is stuck in the past and remains completely out of touch with what people across Britain want to see"."Phillipson contrasted Badenoch's direction with Labour's recent positioning, saying:
"Last week Andy Burnham set out a plan to bring back hope to Britain. Kemi Badenoch wants to drag our country back to a politics that let so many people down over the past 40 years."
What happens next at the conference?
The Conservative Party conference runs in Birmingham from 4 to 7 October 2026. Badenoch is scheduled to deliver her keynote speech at 10am on Wednesday 7 October, where she is expected to expand on the themes outlined in her policy document and address party members directly.
For regular updates on Westminster politics and policy developments, to receive analysis delivered to your inbox daily.
