Tories are united behind Badenoch, but MPs want focus on economy over culture wars to win back voters

October 3, 2026 · 1:00 pm 2 sources

Image: The Guardian

Coverage

Wires & papers of record

• Badenoch returns to Conservative conference much stronger than a year ago
  The Guardian · October 3, 2026 13:00
  Approval ratings for Tory leader and her party have crept up as she has asserted her style and authority but big challenges lie ahead A year ago, Tory MPs were braced for the prospect of yet another leadership battle to topple Kemi Badenoch as the party sunk to historic lows of 14-16% in the…
• Party conference will be more upbeat than last year, Tories say – but that’s not the whole story
  The Guardian · October 4, 2026 06:00
  The mood is better but ‘overhyped’, says one Conservative MP as party remains a distant third in polls The 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…