Inside Kemi Badenoch’s Tory conference as she puts party on ‘war footing’

Inside Kemi Badenoch’s Tory conference as she puts party on ‘war footing’ The Conservative Party conference begins on Sunday in Birmingham and will go on until Wednesday. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments ANALYSIS By Steph Spyro , Deputy political editor and environment editor 08:42, Sun, Oct 4, 2026 Updated: 09:07, Sun, Oct 4, 2026 Kemi Badenoch arriving at Tory conference in Birmingham (Image: Getty) A year ago, Kemi Badenoch arrived at the Conservative Party’s conference fighting for her political survival. But as the curtains come up on day one of this year’s meeting of Tory faithful, she has something she did not have this time last year - momentum. Mrs Badenoch cemented her authority on the party a year ago in a rousing speech about abolishing stamp duty that eventually led to leadership rival Robert Jenrick's sacking from the Conservatives Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT One year on, Mrs Badenoch has another fight on her hands. She has long suggested Andy Burnham could be preparing for an early general election and sources say she is putting her Party on a "war footing". This is despite the Prime Minister's insistence there will be no early national poll. The Tory leader will take to Birmingham ICC with a recently refreshed shadow cabinet flanking her and a raft of new policies in preparation. New prison spaces and the potential abolition of inheritance tax are only part of the puzzle for the Tories . Mrs Badenoch, whose party is lagging behind Labour and Reform UK in the polls, will attempt to position the Tories as a serious contender for Government despite their recent 14 years in power. Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . The Prime Minister at Labour’s conference in Liverpool last week came out swinging against Brexit by refusing to rule out rejoining the EU, being in his party’s next manifesto. He also targeted the triple lock on pensions, a policy which other political parties have dared to tweak despite the costs of maintaining it. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT There are many people in Mrs Badenoch's party that do not agree with keeping the triple lock which makes it a prickly topic for her over the coming days. The Tories cannot afford to lose older voters but many in her Party believe it is unsustainable in its current form. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Uproar at defence minister's claim about those who fight for Britain The real reason Andy Burnham is terrified of cutting benefits will shock you But Mr Burnham's stance on these two major policies gives Mrs Badenoch perfect ammunition to show where her Party stands on vital issues for right-leaning voters who might feel under fire by the Government. Then there is Nigel Farage , whose popularity has also slipped slightly amid various financial scandals. Mrs Badenoch will attempt to draw a line in the sand with Reform UK’s leader. She has vowed not to form an electoral pact with Mr Farage, but the right of politics is fragmented, especially with Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain on both their right flank. The Conservative leader has always ruled out a deal with Mr Farage and her allies now hope that Reform UK’s appeal will fade, making the Conservatives the obvious alternative government once again. Mrs Badenoch will come out swinging at 9am when she is interviewed by the BBC ’s Laura Kuenssberg. She will then head to the conference where Tory members will listen to her give an opening speech. At the venue, the party plans to unveil their 88-foot take on the Bayeux Tapestry which mocks Labour’s downfall. It includes imagery of Angela Rayner , Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham’s rise to power. The design has been printed on cloth and is expected to be the star attraction at the conference this year. Ultimately, Mrs Badenoch is more popular than the political group she represents and this event will be a defining moment in whether she can close that gap. Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch Tory Party Conference Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments