Kemi Badenoch used her keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham to cast herself as the leader who ousted Sir Keir Starmer and promised to make families better off by scrapping inheritance tax on family homes. Speaking with confidence as the undisputed master of her party, she delivered a direct message to voters concerned about their finances.
Focus on household finances
The Conservative leader insisted the party has a message that will resonate with worried voters: the country is running out of money, but families will be better off under the Tories at key moments in their lives. She confirmed that inheritance tax will not be charged on a family home, stamp duty will be scrapped, and there will be no mansion tax.
While the party will also address concerns about crime and national defence, Badenoch knows millions of Britons will pay attention if she offers a credible message about protecting their livelihoods.
Reform deal rejected
Badenoch directed sharp criticism at Nigel Farage's party, portraying its MPs as unfit for government. She said: "To those who say unite the Right, we are not uniting with that." She also joked that the Conservatives had enjoyed an "export boom" with its "drama queens" going to Reform.
Attack on Andy Burnham
The Tory leader tested lines expected to be repeated ahead of the next election, portraying the Prime Minister as a hapless and deluded leader whose failure to grasp urgent challenges is a danger to Britain. She told the hall: "The last thing this country needs is a Paddington Bear prime minister, hoping that the problems go away, while Putin attacks our allies, while our economy flatlines."
Trust still to be won
Despite polls showing her favourability ratings have soared, Badenoch acknowledged the party faces a long struggle to regain public trust. She warned: "People are looking through the shop window, they like what they see, but let's be honest, not enough of them are buying yet. We need to fix that."
Credit for ousting Starmer
Before her speech, a video of her performances at Prime Minister's Questions was played, setting the narrative that she ended Sir Keir's career as prime minister. This matters for grassroots morale: the party may have lost many MPs and councillors, but she toppled a landslide-winning PM. If she could do that in two years, the logic suggests, more may be possible by the next election.
