Kemi Badenoch hopes to grab attention with policy blitz
The country’s most successful political party finds itself in an unprecedented position when it comes to winning elections.
They were crushed in the general election and have gone backwards ever since. Opinion poll ratings for the Conservatives are dismal.
Kemi Badenoch’s position as leader therefore remains precarious.
However, there has been a concerted effort at the Conservative Party Conference over the last few days to give the party something to talk about, in other words: a policy blitz.
And from speech after speech, including one or two to some inner skeptics, “Pleasant Surprise” is a recurring theme.
Badenoch’s first keynote address to the conference made a big statement. They were so excited about it that they didn’t tell us in advance. It was new to us, and new to many in the party too: the abolition of stamp duty on main houses in England and Northern Ireland.
Alongside proposed savings of £47bn, conservatives think it is intended to take back the mantle of economic responsibility in a way that ordinary households can recognize.
But the most important thing here is yes, the party has given itself something to talk about, but is anyone listening?
As a new leader, Badenoch did not want to announce policies.
Partly from an authentic belief that you should think about things before you announce them, so he talked about policies, not just headlines, announcements, details.
But the constant challenge for an opposition party is that if you announce policies too early, they either notch up or time passes them – and you abandon them and implement them before you come to power.
What I’ve noticed this week is that there is a Darwinian selection about the people who come to the conference in Manchester.
Yes, the numbers are down to where they were a few years ago, as you’d expect. But those who emerge are ready for battle.
There is a definite desire for Conservatives to find clear blue water, especially on the economic agenda.
And despite all the rows, the legacy of Liz Truss and her mini-budget, there is some polling evidence to suggest there is some support they can build on their economic prospectus.
And one more fascinating thing – this is all framed around a conversation about conservatives or labor.
There were barely any references to Reformation and Nigel Farage.
Badenoch hopes his speech will get him some time and attention. Nor is it guaranteed in our noisy political ecosystem.
