Why Tories are talking about winning the next election
Kemi Badenoch is more popular than her party right now - Tories are hoping it will rub off on them.
By BBC News
Kemi Badenoch is more popular with voters than the Conservative Party she leads, prompting hopes among senior Tories that her personal ratings can help revive the party’s election prospects.
The Conservative leader has been trying to present the party as a credible alternative to Labour, despite the Tories continuing to trail both Labour and Reform UK in opinion polls.
Polling by More in Common found that Badenoch was one of only two party leaders with a net positive approval rating. However, only about a third of people who said she was doing a good job as leader said they would vote Conservative at the next election.
That gap is central to the party’s hopes. Conservatives believe that improving Badenoch’s public standing could eventually translate into greater support for the party.
The Tories are also attempting to close the distance between themselves and Reform UK. If they can move ahead of Reform in the polls, they hope to argue that they are the only realistic alternative to Labour for voters opposed to the government.
The party is still recovering from its defeat at the 2024 general election, when it suffered its worst result in its history. Current polling suggests Conservative support remains well below the levels needed to return to government.
Badenoch has nevertheless argued that the unpredictable nature of politics means the Conservatives could still win the next election. She has stopped short of saying that victory is certain.
The Conservatives’ immediate challenge is to persuade voters who approve of Badenoch to support the party as well. Without that change, her improved personal ratings may not be enough to alter the party’s position in the polls.