BBC News
· collected 2026-10-07 · by Ottilie Mitchell, Damian Grammaticas
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is set to deliver a speech at her party’s annual conference in Birmingham on Wednesday, emphasizing a "battle of ideas" against Labour's new government led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Badenoch will argue that the Conservatives prioritize individual economic freedom and growth, contrasting this with what she views as Labour's outdated and interventionist policies. She plans to introduce a policy reducing employer National Insurance contributions for workers aged 21 to 24 from 15% to 7.5%, expected to cost £2.3 billion annually, aiming to boost job opportunities for young people not in education or training.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservatives, will deliver a speech at her party’s annual conference in Birmingham, emphasizing an upcoming “battle for the soul of this nation.” Scheduled for Wednesday, she plans to accuse Labour of promoting failed economic policies and presiding over a "tax doom loop" that is depleting national resources. Badenoch will frame the Conservatives as the champions of personal freedom against government overreach in non-essential areas like taxation and social welfare. She intends to highlight her party's fiscal responsibility, promising to allocate 50p from every pound saved through policy changes towards reducing the budget deficit. This strategy contrasts with Labour’s approach, which includes plans to scrap taxes such as the "mansion tax" and High Value Council Tax Surcharge, aiming to appeal to voters concerned about economic growth and personal finances.
Written for “Election Soul Of The Nation Debate” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.65, but 1 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 2 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 61934: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-07
- Published
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will say there is a "battle of ideas" looming in British politics when she delivers a speech on the final day of her party's annual conference on Wednesday.
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she → publish → Wednesday
Badenoch is expected to tell delegates in Birmingham that the differences between her party and the Labour government go "to the very core of what kind of country we want to be".
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we → expect → country
This week the Tory leader has been seeking to re-frame the way the public views her party, which has yet to recover in the polls since the last election.
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which → seek → election
The party has already pledged £10bn for a UK air defence system, and proposed cuts to the rate of employer National Insurance contributions for those aged 21 to 24.
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party → pledge → those
During her main conference speech, Badenoch will pitch the fight against Labour at the next general election as "a battle for the soul of this nation".
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Badenoch → pitch → nation
She will say there is now a clear distinction between the Conservatives and Labour under Prime Minister Andy Burnham,
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She → say → Burnham
According to extracts released in advance, Badenoch will say Burnham's government wants to "wind back the clock to failed ideas of the past".
uncertain
government → accord → past
"They believe economic growth is created by politicians.
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growth → believe → politicians
They think government knows best.
"
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government → think → ?
They think that your income, your pension and your savings are theirs to take and then hand out as they see fit."
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they → think → ?
Badenoch will add that Labour will "claim what they are doing is compassionate", but the result will be higher taxes and a poorer country caught in a "doom loop".
uncertain
result → add → loop
By contrast, Conservatives believe "what people earn belongs to them, not government", Badenoch will say - adding that growing the economy "will be the central organising principle of the next Conservative government".
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growing → believe → government
Earlier this week, Labour said the Tories "completely failed at every turn" to grow the economy during their 14 years in power.
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Tories → say → power
The Conservatives have laid out a number of plans during its autumn conference for if it enters government at the next general election.
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it → lay → election
On Tuesday, Badenoch said she was proposing cutting the rate of employer National Insurance (NI) contributions on earnings for those aged 21 to 24 from 15% to 7.5%.
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she → say → %
Around one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training, and the government has faced calls to reduce employer NI contributions for younger workers to help boost job opportunities.
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government → face → opportunities
The Conservatives said the policy is targeted at starter jobs and the standard rate would apply to earnings above £50,270.
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rate → say → 50,270
The move would cost £2.3bn, according to party estimates, with a plan on how to fund it to be published on Wednesday.
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plan → cost → Wednesday
Earlier this week, shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith said he hopes to scrap at least one tax every budget if the Conservatives return to power, with the so-called "mansion tax" in his sights.
He also said he would scrap the High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS), which takes effect from 2028 and introduces an extra levy for owners of properties in England valued at more than £2m.
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which → say → 2
According to the Times, external, Badenoch is also due to announce a cut to the 40% rate of inheritance tax - which applies to property worth more than £325,000.
uncertain
which → accord → property
The Tory leader will argue her party is "a renewed Conservative Party fighting again for the belief that what people earn belongs to them, not government".
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earn → argue → government
In an interview with BBC political editor Chris Mason on Tuesday, she said "we are going back to the authentic Conservative Party, that people knew and loved".
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people → say → that
The Aporia
