Battle of ideas looming in British politics, Badenoch to say

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will say there is a "battle of ideas" looming in British politics when she delivers a speech on the final day of her party's annual conference on Wednesday.

Badenoch is expected to tell delegates in Birmingham that the differences between her party and the Labour government go "to the very core of what kind of country we want to be".

This week the Tory leader has been seeking to re-frame the way the public views her party, which has yet to recover in the polls since the last election.

The party has already pledged £10bn for a UK air defence system, and proposed cuts to the rate of employer National Insurance contributions for those aged 21 to 24.

During her main conference speech, Badenoch will pitch the fight against Labour at the next general election as "a battle for the soul of this nation".

She will say there is now a clear distinction between the Conservatives and Labour under Prime Minister Andy Burnham,

According to extracts released in advance, Badenoch will say Burnham's government wants to "wind back the clock to failed ideas of the past".

"They believe economic growth is created by politicians. They think government knows best.

"They think that your income, your pension and your savings are theirs to take and then hand out as they see fit."

Badenoch will add that Labour will "claim what they are doing is compassionate", but the result will be higher taxes and a poorer country caught in a "doom loop".

By contrast, Conservatives believe "what people earn belongs to them, not government", Badenoch will say - adding that growing the economy "will be the central organising principle of the next Conservative government".

Earlier this week, Labour said the Tories "completely failed at every turn" to grow the economy during their 14 years in power.

Chancellor John Healey said all promises the government made would be "built on the rock of fiscal discipline" and the Budget on 28 October would "give families and businesses a bit of breathing space".