Introduction: A party at a crossroads
The Conservative Party’s 2025 conference in Manchester felt more like a wake than a victory parade. After a fateful election that many observers deemed the death knell for the modern Conservative brand, party members gathered under a banner of dissatisfaction, bold claims, and a palpable sense of urgency. At the center of the spectacle was Kemi Badenoch, a figure whose ascent to leadership has been as controversial as it is polarizing.
The policy pivot: From climate to control
Sunday’s keynote set the tone: a stark pledge to reconsider or repeal the Climate Change Act and a broader push to trim what Badenoch’s allies call “regulatory overreach.” Critics quickly framed these moves as regressive steps on climate and science policy, while supporters argued they were necessary recalibrations to restore national sovereignty and economic competitiveness. The rhetoric wasn’t limited to climate. Badenoch signaled a willingness to rethink the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and reform a host of “ambiguous” legal frameworks tied to immigration and civil liberties.
Beyond environmental policy, the plans included a broader repositioning on social policy and national security. The promise to tighten law and order, reduce the pull of external norms, and scrutinize the balance between civil liberties and public safety reflected a party trying to redefine its identity in the post-Brexit era. Critics argued the conference spotlighted a “bonfire of rights” that could erode protections many voters expect, while supporters claimed it would restore a sense of national control and order.
The finance and welfare debate: A harsh premise for some voters
On the economic front, the party’s messaging was equally stark. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride outlined ambitious savings targets, including substantial welfare reform and tighter eligibility criteria, reframing social security as an instrument of national sovereignty rather than a universal safety net. The tone suggested a pivot toward a more restrictive, merit-based approach to welfare, which, while popular with some voters, risks alienating others who rely on state support in tough times.
Leadership dynamics: Internal tensions and strategic gambits
The Manchester stage also exposed the party’s fractious leadership dynamics. With MPs and candidates openly speculating about leadership futures, Badenoch’s overtures—two major speeches and a flurry of policy announcements—felt as much like a branding exercise as a policy rollout. Figures such as Robert Jenrick reportedly used the event to gauge support for potential leadership challenges, underscoring an internal contest that appears far from settled. The atmosphere suggested a party that has learned little from past upheavals and is applying a survivalist playbook rather than a long-term reform agenda.
Public reaction: A mix of nostalgia and risk
Among observers, the conference drew a spectrum of responses. Some viewed Badenoch’s stance as a clear signal that the Conservatives are embracing a more hardline, populist posture in a bid to remain relevant. Others warned that such a shift risks widening social divides and reinforcing a perception of the party as disconnected from broader, centrist voters who once formed its electoral core. The contrast between the party’s historic achievements and its current willingness to embrace stark, divisive rhetoric was hard to miss.
Conclusion: The real question for the Conservative movement
Ultimately, the 2025 Manchester gathering underscored a deeper question: can a party in decline reinvent itself without sacrificing core democratic norms? Badenoch’s agenda signals a readiness to test boundaries, but it remains to be seen whether such tests will attract new voters or push away those who crave steadier leadership. The progressive fight, many argue, is not ended—it is simply shifting in format, waiting for a new strategy to emerge from within the Conservative movement.
