Chance for Kemi Badenoch to put daylight between her party and the rest

When Kemi Badenoch takes to the stage today, she has the opportunity to put daylight between not just her party and the current Labour Government but also Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

The leader of the Tories must remember why the Conservatives are electorally the most successful party in modern western democracy. It is a party that, during the peak of its success, has rooted itself into reality. Tackling the challenges it faces with ruthless but empathetic pragmatism.

That is why any pledges that Badenoch makes in her speech at the party’s conference, such as cutting inheritance tax, needs to stand the test of economic reality.

The lesson of abandoning economic orthodoxy still haunts the Tories, four years since Liz Truss’ disastrous premiership. That and rise of Reform UK has meant that the Conservative Party has had to change course. Badenoch thus far has proved a steady hand with the reins but she needs to start connecting with voters. There is plenty of grist to the mill for her to deliver a transformative policy platform not only for her party but also the country at large.

Labour has failed to deliver welfare reform. Badenoch should not shy away from making tough decisions. The rising cost of the welfare system is just not sustainable. It undermines the country’s economy, security and its ability to look after the most vulnerable in society.

Immigration is an issue that continues to dog both Labour and the Tories. Badenoch has got a big task on her hand convincing the electorate that her party deserves its confidence on the issue after how poorly the Tories handled the small boats crisis. With a new opposite number on the other side of the House, Badenoch has the opportunity to show that the Tories are the answer to the country’s problems.