MANCHESTER, England — The Conservative Party in the UK is making a concerted effort to appeal to disillusioned voters by adopting aggressive stances on immigration, abandoning net-zero commitments, and emphasizing domestic financial support. This shift mirrors the tactics employed by Donald Trump and Nigel Farage.
During her keynote address at the annual Conservative Party conference, leader Kemi Badenoch unveiled an ambitious plan to establish a new “removals force” tasked with detaining and deporting up to 150,000 undocumented migrants. This initiative draws inspiration from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, a move that underscores the party’s pivot towards more hardline immigration policies. This announcement follows last week’s commitment to repeal the 2008 Climate Change Act, which set the UK’s targets for carbon emissions reduction.
Shifting political landscape
Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride is expected to bolster this trend by announcing plans to eliminate what he describes as “costly and ineffective” green subsidies and suggesting further cuts to the UK’s overseas aid budget. This direction signifies a substantial shift toward the rhetoric espoused by Reform UK, pushing the Conservatives further to the right than Badenoch has typically advocated in her policy development.
Current polling indicates that the Conservatives are trailing Farage’s Reform UK by 14 points and remain four points behind the unpopular Labour Party. This political landscape has prompted a significant departure from the party’s traditional center-ground liberal stances.
Addressing voter concerns
In the wake of last year’s significant electoral defeat, senior Conservatives are recognizing the need to adapt to the changing political climate. One anonymous Tory strategist noted, “The Overton Window has shifted,” alluding to the evolving nature of political discourse and public opinion.
Former Home Secretary Grant Shapps, who identifies as a centrist, emphasized the importance of addressing undocumented migration, stating, “I genuinely think that until a government, no matter what party, gets a grip of this issue, public trust in governance will never come back.” The Conservatives believe that by neutralizing Reform UK’s stance on migration, they can effectively present their broader economic arguments.
“If you haven’t got a decent answer on migration, then you are a bit fucked because that is seen as one of those big fractures,” remarked an ex-Cabinet minister, highlighting the necessity of addressing migration issues to regain voter attention.
On Tuesday, Stride is anticipated to argue that the Conservative Party is uniquely positioned to uphold fiscal responsibility, calling for a more disciplined approach to government spending.
However, there is an inherent caution among top Conservatives about overly emulating Trump-style politics, particularly given the civil liberties concerns that have arisen in the U.S. One senior party member noted that while they want to communicate their policies clearly, they will not adopt harsh measures that disregard compassion for individuals with a right to remain in the UK.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel reaffirmed the distinction between American and British contexts, asserting, “What would be set up here under our party would be different as well, because our laws are different.”
Polling data suggests that the British public tends to reject policies that fail to meet a basic standard of fairness. Patrick English, director of political analytics at YouGov, indicated that measures like forced removals are generally unpopular among the electorate, with only a small segment of reform-leaning voters supporting such approaches.
With elections approaching in Scotland and Wales next May, Badenoch faces increasing pressure to demonstrate tangible progress. There is a growing urgency for her to capitalize on the current weaknesses of the Labour Party, as the potential for a continued downward trajectory looms large.
“There has to be a point where the plane doesn’t continue to just aim at the ground,” warned an ex-Cabinet minister, emphasizing the critical stakes at play for the Conservatives.