Return of the nasty party? Badenoch walks tightrope with ‘punch down’ policies
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch faces internal pressure as her party struggles in polls despite a more unified conference mood. Critics argue her focus on right-wing policies to counter Reform UK risks alienating centrist voters.
Why it matters
The article examines the strategic dilemma of the UK Conservative Party as it attempts to recover from a major electoral defeat.
There is a consensus that Kemi Badenoch is doing well as party leader. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA There is a consensus that Kemi Badenoch is doing well as party leader. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Conservatives Return of the nasty party? Badenoch walks tightrope with ‘punch down’ policies Shadow minister says Tories have ‘outsourced our toxicity to Reform’, but others doubt leader can spark lasting revival
Peter Walker Senior political correspondent Sun 4 Oct 2026 02.00 EDT Last modified on Sun 4 Oct 2026 04.15 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google T he forthcoming Conservative conference will be, almost everyone in the party agrees, notably more upbeat and unified than last year. There is a similar consensus that Kemi Badenoch is doing well as party leader. That is, however, not the whole story.
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