Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party conference speech reflected the Conference’s overwhelming theme. The Conservative party that had lost its way by going fashionably left of center is back to its senses. The party of small government, national defense, economic aspiration and law and order is back with Badenoch firmly at the helm. Kemi’s speech reflected this monumental readjustment and was precisely what Britian needed to hear after years of waffling about by the conservatives in name only and the last two years of openly socialist rhetoric from the Labour Party. I left the conference feeling deeply relieved that the Conservative Movement is back, impressed by Badenoch’s conviction, passion and willingness to make difficult choices.
The new shadow cabinet reflects this new Conservative momentum. It is coherent, young and energetic. “We actually like each other” said Badenoch and what a relief that was to hear. The economic policies developed by this new cabinet and outlined in Kemi’s speech presented a coherent Conservative vision of what Great Britain could be – what it should do and, perhaps most importantly, what it must stop doing.
Lower taxes, stronger national defense, greater autonomy for individuals and their finances with clear rewards for hard work, investments and wealth creation all alongside a smaller, less controlling state. These are the foundations that Britain was built on. They deliver economic growth, prosperity and lower government debt – lowering the cost of borrowing for government, businesses, and homeowners.
During these times of deep cultural and religious division, Kemi showed herself as a leader who wants to unite Britain. A leader who has the courage to confront prejudice wherever it comes from. The Conservative Party has made it very clear that it stands with British Jews and will not tolerate antisemitism in any form. On the anniversary of the barbaric Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, she and members of her cabinet stated it loud and clear that the Conservatives should stand on their principles, rather than court those who trade in division and sectarianism.
Badenoch announced the commitment by the Conservatives to tackle the most widely despised and unjust tax in Britain – the inheritance tax. Her policy will be to exempt family homes from the IHT altogether, while couples will be able to pass on an additional £1 million tax-free. Her longer-term ambition is to abolish the tax entirely once the country can afford it. There is something powerful about a leader who says, this is what I believe, this is what we can afford, and I will not pretend otherwise. Britain desperately needs that honesty.
“Governing is about choices, tough choices, and Conservatives will not announce a tax cut without telling you how we are going to pay for it” demonstrates precisely the financial discipline Britain desperately needs.
We should celebrate those who build businesses, invest, buy homes and create wealth. These are the people whose economic activity generates employment and the taxes that public services so greatly rely on. Discouraging success will simply leave the state’s pockets empty. “There is no government money – there is only the taxpayers’ money” and we need a Government that respects that.
Badenoch’s promise to “put the fair back in welfare” echoes this sentiment. Labour’s welfare commitments are ballooning, but Britain can’t keep expecting an increasingly burdened working population to finance every need of the unemployed and of those who are here illegally. Of course, British people who genuinely cannot work must be supported. But a welfare system which encourages dependency is simply not the solution. There is a saying in Pakistan: “If you want to work – go to the US, if you want welfare – go to Europe”. Britain wants no part of this. As it is one in five working age adults in Britain are on Universal Credit. This is simply unsustainable and Badenoch and Andrew Griffith, the shadow Chancellor, both recognize it very well.
Badenoch’s other commitments included simplification of the tax system and decreasing by half employer National Insurance for workers aged under 25, making it more attractive for businesses to employ them. Pubs, restaurants and small businesses will benefit from Conservatives promise to abolish business rates for them, brining life back to our hollowed-out Highstreets.
Badenoch’s commitment to more than £70 billion in savings, alongside welfare reforms such as the Back to Work Card for those unemployed for six months, and plans to reduce the deficit by over £35 billion, demonstrates her understanding that lower taxes must be accompanied by spending discipline. Promising everything to everyone is easy, as Labour knows too well. But leadership means setting priorities.
Labour continues to threaten us with greater state control, intervention in markets and nationalization of business. This ideology is contrary to human spirit; it has never succeeded and has always led to human suffering. We need a government that trusts people to self-fulfill, build, invest and succeed.
In these troubled times of global instability, Badenoch warned that “the era of peace is over”. She’s right. With the threat of Russia and its extremist allies, such as Iran, growing, we need resources to support our Ukrainian allies, strengthen our armed forces and ensure national security is not undermined by misplaced spending priorities or subversive ideologies. The Conservatives committed to increasing defence spending and proposed a new missile and drone defence system, the Britannia Shield. Badenoch understands that one of the most important functions of government is to keep its citizens safe from external and internal threats. Her announcement of 10,000 more police officers and commitment to deportation of illegal migrants demonstrates Conservative commitment to law and order. Working with our allies and supporting our armed forces by growing our defence spending to 3% of the GDP demonstrates that commitment to keep Britain safe.
Labour’s dangerous experimental playtime must end. We need a government that is of the people and for the people, not a wasteful and controlling nanny state.
Badenoch’s speech was a welcome return to the Conservative principles that once made Britain Great. With this new Conservative team, we can get there again.