Kemi Badenoch has warned the Conservative Party to prepare for a possible general election before Christmas, as speculation grows that Andy Burnham could call a snap poll.
The Opposition leader, who energised Conservative supporters with her conference address in Birmingham, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I’ve instructed the Conservative Party to be ready for an election at any point.’
Mrs Badenoch has dismissed Mr Burnham’s claim last month that there would be ‘no election any time soon’. She believes he could instead act while his party is enjoying a boost in the polls and the Green Party and Liberal Democrats are facing internal turmoil.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski suffered a setback on Thursday after failing to win the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. He is also under increasing pressure over anti-Israeli activism, while the party’s poll rating has been cut in half this year, with most of the lost support moving to Labour.
Sir Ed Davey is meanwhile fighting to retain his position as Liberal Democrat leader after MP Charlie Maynard resigned from the front bench on Friday in what appeared to be an effort to force a leadership contest.
A senior Conservative source said: ‘We think the election will come sooner rather than later, possibly before the end of the year.’
Mrs Badenoch’s strategists were placed on standby during the Labour conference in case Mr Burnham used his speech to launch an election contest. The Conservatives have held campaign meetings since July and already have a draft manifesto and election ‘grid’ setting out the seats Mrs Badenoch would visit and the public appearances she would make.
Speaking on Saturday night, Mrs Badenoch said: ‘We know there’s a battle of ideas coming in British politics and I’ve instructed the Conservative Party to be ready for an election at any point. When that election comes there will be a simple choice between Conservative plans to get Britain working again and a Labour party that keeps putting up taxes, refuses to cut welfare and won’t fund our defence.’
Kemi Badenoch has told the Conservatives to prepare for a possible pre-Christmas general election as speculation mounts that Andy Burnham could call a snap poll
Green Party leader Zack Polanski suffered a major setback after failing to win the Holborn and St Pancras by-election and is facing growing pressure over anti-Israeli activism
Mrs Badenoch’s team was encouraged by the response to her Birmingham conference speech, in which she signalled a return to traditional Conservative priorities including lower taxes and wider home ownership. She also pledged to abolish inheritance tax on main residences as part of what she called a ‘battle for the soul of the nation’.
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Mr Burnham is not required to call an election until 2029. However, the Left-wing measures outlined in his conference speech, including the creation of a national care service, would require tax increases that were ruled out in the 2024 manifesto.
The worsening economic outlook ahead of this month’s Budget has also exposed the challenge of balancing the books while Chancellor John Healey remains bound by commitments on income tax, VAT and National Insurance.
Potential changes to the triple lock pension system, reversing Brexit and introducing electoral reform have also been cited as reasons why the prime minister might seek a personal mandate from voters at the ballot box.
As The Mail on Sunday reports today, the Conservatives’ target voter has been dubbed ‘Waitrose Woman’. She is described as ‘aspirational – not necessarily a millionaire’ and as someone who ‘wants to work hard, get on and pay less tax so she can have more money in her pocket’.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is also preparing for a snap election, appointing a senior Armed Forces figure as its defence spokesman. Several other military figures are expected to join the party as defence funding is likely to become a central campaign issue.
The party is also seeking a prominent health policy expert, alongside further recruits from the private sector and public services.
Mrs Badenoch has rejected Mr Burnham’s claim that there will be ‘no election any time soon’, believing he could act while his poll ratings are improving and the Green Party and Liberal Democrats are in disarray
It was reported yesterday that Mr Farage is launching an eight-page newspaper, The Reformer, which will be delivered to 15 million homes in an effort to ensure his ‘message is heard by the masses’.
The publication will feature articles on Reform’s policies and commentary from Mr Farage, who is undertaking a ‘general election tour’ this month. He is visiting Red Wall constituencies where Reform hopes to unseat Labour.
The latest polling suggests that if an election were to be held now, Labour would win 313 seats – down 99 on their 2024 performance – while the Conservatives would win 123 – up two – and Reform would get 95.
That would leave Labour just short of an overall majority, but could easily form a Government in coalition with the Liberal Democrats.