Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will use the closing day of her party's annual conference in Birmingham on Wednesday to declare that a fundamental "battle of ideas" is taking shape in British politics. She will argue that the ideological gulf between the Conservatives and the Labour government led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham extends to the most basic questions about the nation's future direction and values.
During her keynote address, Badenoch intends to characterise the coming general election contest as
"a battle for the soul of this nation". The speech represents a deliberate effort to reshape public perceptions of the Conservative Party, which has struggled to recover its standing in opinion polls since losing power at the last election.
According to advance extracts of her remarks, Badenoch will contend that Labour wants to
"wind back the clock to failed ideas of the past". She will argue that the government operates from a fundamentally flawed premise: that politicians create economic growth, that state intervention produces better outcomes, and that citizens' earnings rightfully belong to the government to redistribute as officials see fit.
The Conservative leader will assert that Labour will
"claim what they are doing is compassionate", yet the actual result will be higher taxation and economic stagnation trapped in a
"doom loop". By contrast, she will present the Conservative position as resting on the principle that
"what people earn belongs to them, not government", with economic expansion serving as
"the central organising principle of the next Conservative government".
At the opening of the conference, Badenoch described the Conservatives as a "classic old-school" party and published a 100-page statement setting out her principles. She also emphasised that British culture "means something" and that the UK "is not a dormitory, it is not a hotel", warning against "little ghettos of separatist communities".
What policies are the Conservatives proposing?
The party has unveiled several major commitments during the conference week. A £10 billion investment in a UK air defence system reflects growing strategic concerns about protecting British airspace. The Conservatives have also pledged to reduce employer National Insurance contributions for workers aged 21 to 24, cutting the rate from 15% to 7.5% on earnings below £50,270. This policy, estimated to cost £2.3bn according to party figures, targets starter jobs and aims to improve employment prospects for young people, with around one million currently outside education, employment or training.
Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith has signalled an ambition to eliminate at least one tax during each budget cycle should the Conservatives return to power. Specific targets include the so-called "mansion tax" and the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, which takes effect from 2028 and imposes an additional levy on properties in England valued above £2 million. Badenoch is also expected to announce a reduction to the 40% inheritance tax rate, which currently applies to property worth more than £325,000.
The Conservatives have additionally proposed ending the childcare eligibility cliff edge for parents earning over £100,000, making parents working at least 16 hours a week eligible for up to 30 hours of free childcare. The party has also committed to creating 50,000 prison places, funded in part by reducing the overseas aid budget to £1 billion a year.
How has Labour responded?
The government has dismissed Conservative claims about economic management. Earlier this week, Labour stated that the Tories
"completely failed at every turn"to expand the economy during their 14 years in office. Chancellor John Healey emphasised that all government commitments rest on
"the rock of fiscal discipline", with the Budget scheduled for 28 October intended to
"give families and businesses a bit of breathing space".
What is Badenoch's broader political strategy?
Badenoch has positioned herself as leading a renewal of Conservative principles, telling a political editor that
"we are going back to the authentic Conservative Party, that people knew and loved". She has ruled out an electoral pact with Reform UK, despite pressure from some Conservative figures. Former Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has publicly urged the party to pursue closer ties with Reform and to scrap inheritance tax entirely. Reform's own polling support has recently weakened amid scrutiny of party leader Nigel Farage's financial arrangements.
When does the conference conclude?
The Conservative conference runs in Birmingham through Wednesday 7 October, with Badenoch's keynote speech scheduled for 10:00 that morning. The address will serve as the formal capstone to the party's showcase of policy and messaging as it seeks to rebuild momentum ahead of the next general election.
Key Facts:
- Badenoch will frame the next election as a fundamental clash of values between Conservative and Labour visions for Britain
- The party is proposing £10bn for air defence, National Insurance cuts for young workers, and reductions to inheritance tax and council tax surcharges
- Childcare eligibility reforms and 50,000 new prison places are also part of the Conservative platform
- Labour has challenged Conservative economic credentials, pointing to their 14-year record in office
- The conference concludes on Wednesday 7 October with Badenoch's keynote at 10:00
