Badenoch’s disputed pitch for power

The Economist calls Badenoch’s pitch incoherent, but says the Conservatives still have a chance to reunite the right.

Principles before policies

In its October 4 announcement, the Conservative Party presents The Right Way as a framework for governing if it returns to office. It draws on the party’s 1976 document, The Right Approach, which preceded its 1979 manifesto. The party says principles should come before a programme, including creating wealth before distributing it and judging government by results rather than intentions.

Acknowledging past failures

In the foreword reproduced by the party, Badenoch acknowledges promises to lower immigration without a delivery strategy, net-zero legislation without an economically feasible route, and Brexit without the economic plan she says was needed. These are her assessments of past decisions.

A conditional tax promise

On October 7, the Conservatives pledged to exempt the family home from inheritance tax and raise the individual threshold for other assets to £500,000. The party says a couple could pass their main home to direct descendants tax-free, plus £1 million to anyone. It describes the proposal as fully costed, but the supplied announcement provides no costing breakdown. Implementation would require legislation by a future Conservative government.