Lewis Defraine: Badenoch has pulled the party out of life support and is getting it back on it’s fighting feet
This framing isn't accidental.
Lewis Defraine is an aspiring journalist who focuses on British politics, European affairs, and ideology.
In the Spring of 2025, the Conservative Party was declared dead.
Countless media outlets found great pleasure in emphasising the pitiful state of the Tory institution, as the left danced on the grave of an entity that had battled them for decades. For many, the autopsy detailed a very clear point— Reform had murdered the opposition, replacing them as the dominant party of the right, just as Labour had supplanted the Liberals a century prior. To be frank, it was Farage-assisted suicide. Fourteen eventful years of turbulence had brutally shattered public trust and support for the Tories, destroying the reputation forged by centuries of successful power.
The woman tasked with rebuilding this crumbling machine was Kemi Badenoch, who dissatisfied and disappointed many observers almost immediately. Her decision to play the long-term game and not implement policy with pace was quickly deemed a poor one, possibly even the blow that finally struck the Conservative party stone cold. Reform did not have to be brilliant to surge past the Tories. The door was opened wide for them, as they were met by the courteous bows of the many MPs who had played their part in the demise of a staple of politics.
The Summer brought stagnation, but on this occasion, a good kind. Rapidly decreasing YouGov polling figures finally flatlined at 17 per cent, halting a decline that threatened the very existence of the Conservatives as a mainstream party.
While Starmer’s Labour government began to rapidly embroil itself in internal conflict, Badenoch found slight stability and respite in churning waters, as the spotlight was steered away from the demise of the Tories towards the dire shortcomings of their arch-rivals.
Autumn saw an unprecedented chapter in the Tories’ 2025. In years to come, the party conference in Manchester will likely be seen as the remarkable turning point in the decline of the Conservatives, coming just before a rise in the polls. It could be the vital springboard for future growth and success.
Despite this, a dreary, uninspiring atmosphere played in the media’s death narrative further— it felt as if the few that bothered to attend were witnessing the party’s funeral. This pathetic, insipid vigil was a far cry from the glory days of an institution.
The Conservative Party laid weakened, wounded and written off in a dark corner of the political ring. The referee’s count neared ten, but they weren’t knocked out. They will stand to throw punches again, enthused with renewed optimism. Some may have enjoyed heralding the demise of the Tories, but it was short-sighted to say their time in the mainstream was up. The old lion still has teeth, and whilst the …
Lewis Defraine: Badenoch has pulled the party out of life support and is getting it back on it’s fighting feet
This framing isn't accidental.
Lewis Defraine is an aspiring journalist who focuses on British politics, European affairs, and ideology.
In the Spring of 2025, the Conservative Party was declared dead.
Countless media outlets found great pleasure in emphasising the pitiful state of the Tory institution, as the left danced on the grave of an entity that had battled them for decades. For many, the autopsy detailed a very clear point— Reform had murdered the opposition, replacing them as the dominant party of the right, just as Labour had supplanted the Liberals a century prior. To be frank, it was Farage-assisted suicide. Fourteen eventful years of turbulence had brutally shattered public trust and support for the Tories, destroying the reputation forged by centuries of successful power.
The woman tasked with rebuilding this crumbling machine was Kemi Badenoch, who dissatisfied and disappointed many observers almost immediately. Her decision to play the long-term game and not implement policy with pace was quickly deemed a poor one, possibly even the blow that finally struck the Conservative party stone cold. Reform did not have to be brilliant to surge past the Tories. The door was opened wide for them, as they were met by the courteous bows of the many MPs who had played their part in the demise of a staple of politics.
The Summer brought stagnation, but on this occasion, a good kind. Rapidly decreasing YouGov polling figures finally flatlined at 17 per cent, halting a decline that threatened the very existence of the Conservatives as a mainstream party.
While Starmer’s Labour government began to rapidly embroil itself in internal conflict, Badenoch found slight stability and respite in churning waters, as the spotlight was steered away from the demise of the Tories towards the dire shortcomings of their arch-rivals.
Autumn saw an unprecedented chapter in the Tories’ 2025. In years to come, the party conference in Manchester will likely be seen as the remarkable turning point in the decline of the Conservatives, coming just before a rise in the polls. It could be the vital springboard for future growth and success.
Despite this, a dreary, uninspiring atmosphere played in the media’s death narrative further— it felt as if the few that bothered to attend were witnessing the party’s funeral. This pathetic, insipid vigil was a far cry from the glory days of an institution.
The Conservative Party laid weakened, wounded and written off in a dark corner of the political ring. The referee’s count neared ten, but they weren’t knocked out. They will stand to throw punches again, enthused with renewed optimism. Some may have enjoyed heralding the demise of the Tories, but it was short-sighted to say their time in the mainstream was up. The old lion still has teeth, and whilst the …
