Kemi Badenoch is set to characterise the next general election as the most significant "battle for the soul of this nation" in at least half a century. In her main speech on Wednesday, she will state that party leaders will engage in a "battle of ideas" at the upcoming election.
The address to party members will prioritise economic issues facing Britain. Badenoch plans to outline the Conservative Party's ambition to cut spending, narrow the deficit, and reduce taxes for businesses and households. She is expected to say, "It will be a battle for the soul of this nation, a battle of ideas, a battle that goes to the very core of who we are and what kind of country we want to be."
Badenoch will also tell activists that taxes would increase under Burnham, who she believes thinks "government knows best." She will reiterate a commitment to allocate half of identified savings towards cutting the deficit to maintain fiscal discipline. On Tuesday, the Conservatives announced a lower tax burden for employers hiring young people aged 21 to 24, at a cost of just over £2bn.