Janice R. Andrews
The Conservative Party finds itself at a pivotal moment as Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick emerge as the final candidates in the leadership race. Both are advocating for a rightward shift while attempting to separate themselves from the party’s controversial 14-year governance, which ended in a decisive Labour victory this July.
Breaking with the Past
Both leadership contenders recognize the need for a fresh start. Badenoch’s campaign launch emphasized avoiding repetition of previous policy debates, while Jenrick shares her desire to chart a new course away from the party’s recent history of austerity measures, Brexit complications, and internal controversies.
The Conservative Legacy: 2010-2024
Economic Performance
- Government debt increased by 40% despite austerity measures
- Lowest private investment rate among G7 nations
- Trade decline: exports down 13.2% and imports down 7.4% since 2019
- Individual tax rates reached 70-year highs while corporate taxes were cut by 9%
- Average worker wages decreased by £11,000 compared to pre-Conservative levels
Brexit and Immigration
- Post-Brexit immigration surged from 252,000 in 2010 to 764,000 in 2022
- Productivity declined by 60% since 2010
- Economic growth lagged behind other Western nations
Social Impact
- Wealth inequality widened dramatically
- Billionaire count tripled from 53 to 165 (2010-2023)
- Child poverty increased significantly
- Food bank usage rose by 5,000%
- Homelessness jumped by 120%
Public Services Crisis
- NHS waiting lists increased by 210%
- Social services budgets cut by nearly 30%
- Prison system overcrowding
- Controversial decisions like cutting school rebuilding funds while reducing champagne taxes
Housing Market
- Social housing construction dropped from 28,000 (1990) to under 7,000 (2020)
- Rental costs increased by 40%
- House prices reached eight times average salary, double the 2000 ratio
Environmental and Policy Failures
- £240 million Rwanda asylum scheme failed to process any refugees
- Widespread river and sea pollution from untreated sewage
- Liz Truss’s £45 billion unfunded tax cut package triggered market panic
Current Leadership Contest
The race between Badenoch and Jenrick represents a critical juncture for the Conservative Party. While both candidates propose moving further right ideologically, they face the challenge of rebuilding party credibility while addressing the substantial economic, social, and environmental problems inherited from their predecessors. Their success in opposition, and potential return to government, will depend on their ability to convince voters they can offer solutions distinct from the policies that led to their party’s recent electoral defeat.
