# What Tories must prove at Birmingham conference > Conservative leaders gather to show they remain a credible opposition to Labour's Andy Burnham government. - Title: What Tories must prove at Birmingham conference · POLITICO - Summary: Conservative leaders gather to show they remain a credible opposition to Labour's Andy Burnham government. The Conservative Party convenes in Birmingham on… - Keywords: conservative party, kemi badenoch, andy burnham, labour party, reform uk, nigel farage, birmingham conference, uk politics, general election, opposition, politics, world - Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/tory-conference-2026-what-politico-reporters-are-watching-for - Published: 2026-10-04T02:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: conservative party, kemi badenoch, andy burnham, labour party, reform uk, nigel farage, birmingham conference, uk politics, general election, opposition, politics, world ## Tories gather to show they matter Britain's Conservative Party convenes in Birmingham on Sunday as the largest opposition party, seeking to prove it remains relevant despite Labour's strong polling lead. ## Badenoch faces a polling challenge Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch has consolidated her position and improved her personal ratings, but Labour leads at twenty-six percent while Tories lag at nineteen percent, behind Reform UK. ## Badenoch's speech targets Burnham Badenoch speaks at eleven am Wednesday, arguing that Prime Minister Andy Burnham's crusade against forty years of neoliberalism has ushered in a classic left-right ideological fight. > 40 years of neoliberalism ## Badenoch plans to be more abrasive The self-described badass Kemi plans to be more abrasive than Burnham, who avoided attacking anyone in his speech. She will argue for cutting welfare to fund defence, Labour's weak points. > badass Kemi ## Badenoch claims fiscal responsibility Badenoch will try to paint the Tories as the party of fiscal responsibility, though that is a crowded marketplace. She faces the challenge of differentiating from both Labour and Reform UK. ## Limited economic policy announcements There will be economic policy announcements but perhaps not on the scale of last year's pledge to scrap stamp duty. Badenoch has talked about getting rid of inheritance tax but aides suggest an announcement is not ready. ## Candidate selection and party direction Tory aides say they are on a war footing and candidate selection is ramping up. Some high-profile centrist Tories rejected by Badenoch are swerving the conference, but former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street will be prominent. > war footing ## Coalition question looms over Tories All recent polls suggest Tories and Reform would have to team up to run a government. There is no love lost between the parties, and Badenoch must decide whether to attack Nigel Farage or Restore Britain chief Rupert Lowe. ## Tories challenge Labour on foreign policy The Conservatives will position themselves against Ed Miliband's foreign secretary agenda, including new sanctions on Israeli E one settlements. They may also attack Labour's more conciliatory approach to China. ## Badenoch ditches net-zero targets The Conservatives have moved far from their government days. Badenoch has been clear about ditching legally-binding climate targets and drilling for more oil and gas in the North Sea. ## Griffith makes growth pitch Monday Andrew Griffith, promoted to shadow chancellor earlier this year to replace Mel Stride, makes his big speech on getting Britain growing again at two pm Monday. Growth was Labour's favoured buzzword. ## Tories fight Labour's EU reset plans The fightback against Burnham's pledge to explore closer ties with the EU continues in Birmingham. Deputy Leader Alex Burghart has pledged to reverse the Brexit reset, warning that an agrifood deal risks undermining UK trading relationships. ## Key takeaway The Conservative Party convenes in Birmingham on Sunday to demonstrate it can challenge Labour's government and compete with Nigel Farage's Reform UK for voters' support.