Britain’s storied Conservative Party is fighting for its survival amid declining support and internal challenges. After a crushing defeat in the July 2024 general election, the party’s worst showing in history, the Conservatives are struggling to find their footing. Leader Kemi Badenoch has vowed to revitalize the party, adopting a more right-wing stance that includes mass deportations and aggressive spending cuts. However, this approach has raised concerns among civil liberties groups and some party members, who fear it could alienate potential supporters.
The party’s struggles are further complicated by the rise of Reform UK, a hard-right party led by Nigel Farage that has been outperforming the Conservatives in opinion polls. Many Conservatives are looking back to the 1980s and the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who is celebrated for her transformative free-market policies, in the hope that Badenoch can similarly revitalize the party.
Despite the party’s efforts to rebrand and reconnect with voters, the Conservatives face significant hurdles. The party’s brand has been tarnished by recent scandals and controversies, including the partygate scandal and the ousting of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. To recover, the party will need to prove its relevance to voters’ lives and show that it shares their concerns and values.
Experts argue that the Conservatives need to take a multi-pronged approach to recovery, including rebuilding the party at the local level, telling the stories of struggling Britons, and crafting a values-based narrative that resonates with voters. By doing so, the party may be able to arrest its decline and reclaim its place as a major force in British politics.
