Despite her slow start as the leader of the Conservative Party in 2024, Kemi Badenoch seems to be doubling down on her resolve to reposition the Tories in the hearts of the average UK voter.
What with a brilliant and ambitious conference speech in Birmingham, UK, on 7th October, her second as leader of the opposition, where she declared “a battle for the soul of the nation” in an emotion-laden speech that drew endless applause from party faithful across the United Kingdom.
The Tory leader seems to be out and about, telling a new story of hope while staying firm in her party’s economic message, which seems to target middle-class voters, including the promise to help them keep more of their hard-earned money by scrapping stamp duty.
Among such similar economic policies is her pledge to abolish the inheritance tax on family homes and increase the total inheritance tax threshold for couples by £1million. The conservative leader is poised to ensure that no one is forced to pay inheritance tax on a home passed to their heirs.
Ms Badenoch seems to be in the limelight, firing on all cylinders as an opposition leader who suddenly woke up to her responsibilities. Her incessant “attack” on Andy Burnham to change his docile approach to security, economic stagnation, and the international threat from Russia reasserts her firmness, making many liken her to rightist Margaret Thatcher of yore.
Her call to Burnham today, to focus on the dwindling economy instead of distracting the nation with whether or not Russia influenced the Brexit referendum outcome in 2016, is a new display of her understanding of the issues.
Despite coming third on the polls, just 1% behind Labour and head and shoulders above Nigel Farage on the net satisfaction ratings, the Conservative leader seems to be on top of her game, targeting moderate and centre ground voters, which may obviously become the swing votes for a party that has drawn the anger of the people over time.
At least, for now, Conservative MPs, leaders and members are beginning to see in Kemi Badenoch, a leadership that is promising, focused and firm. Her refusal to accept the call to “Unite the Right” in a coalition with the rightist UK Reform Party of Nigel Farage is key.
Ms Badenoch emphasised the taxonomic difference between the Conservatives and Reform. “They’re not like us; we are not like them”, she insisted. While many felt that forming a coalition with Farage’s Reform gives a better chance against the left, the conservative leader felt that the party has already purged itself of the bad eggs who left the party to pitch tent with Reform UK.
This new reawakening of Badenoch and the conservative leadership is already being taunted in some quarters as a rightist media hype. But it remains to be seen whether or not Kemi Badenoch’s “Tough love”, revived zest and its effect on the people is sustainable and can translate into actual votes for the tired conservative party in the near future.
