Is Kemi Badenoch modernizing the Tories or just repackaging old tricks? By Robert Perez

If there’s one thing the Conservative Party does well, it’s rebranding without ever really changing. Like a snake shedding its skin only to reveal the same old scales underneath, every new Tory leader arrives with grand declarations of renewal, progress, and a fresh direction. But as Kemi Badenoch rises in prominence, allegedly steering the Conservatives into the 21st century, one has to wonder: is this a genuine ideological shift, or just another pantomime of reform, a Thatcherite revival wrapped in 21st-century culture war rhetoric?

For years, the Tories have been locked in a cycle of oscillation between austerity-driven pragmatism and hard-right nostalgia, often masquerading as forward-thinking policy. David Cameron’s ‘modern conservatism’ was little more than neoliberalism in a softer shade of blue, an attempt to detoxify a party still suffering the post-Thatcher hangover. Theresa May followed with her ‘strong and stable’ act, a phrase that aged about as well as Liz Truss’ economic policies. Boris Johnson, ever the showman, ditched all pretences of ideological commitment in favour of Churchill cosplay, Brexit-fuelled populism, and scandalous headlines. Then came Rishi Sunak, who, despite his polished, tech-bro exterior, doubled down on old Conservative mainstays: tax cuts for the wealthy, cuts to social services, and policies designed to appeal to the increasingly radicalized party base.

Now, enter Kemi Badenoch. If her supporters are to be believed, she represents a bold new future for the Conservative Party, a dynamic leader unafraid to take on the establishment and reform a party that has lost its way. A fresh face with a supposedly modern outlook, Badenoch presents herself as a warrior against ‘woke culture,’ a pragmatist who cuts through bureaucracy and ideological deadwood, someone willing to drag the Tories kicking and screaming into modernity. But does this claim hold up under scrutiny?

Badenoch’s appeal is rooted in her ability to blend traditional Tory economics with the kind of cultural combativeness that plays well in the modern right-wing ecosystem. She talks of meritocracy while ignoring the deeply entrenched structural inequalities that prevent it from functioning. She champions free speech while aligning with a party that has consistently sought to criminalize protest. She derides ‘identity politics’ while simultaneously using her own background as a political shield against criticism.

But what of actual policy? Is there substance behind the rhetoric? Thus far, her stance seems to lean heavily on familiar right-wing talking points: slashing regulations, a hardline immigration approach, a fixation on deregulation, and a rather ironic disdain for ‘big government’ despite being part of a party that has historically bloated the state when it suited its interests. Her economic vision, much like her predecessors’, is one where corporations thrive, social safety nets wither, and the promise of ‘cutting red tape’ translates into weakening workers’ rights and environmental protections.

In reality, Badenoch isn’t leading the Tories into a bold new era, she’s simply refining the art of right-wing populism with a more articulate, less chaotic veneer. It’s not an overhaul of Conservatism; it’s the same old dogma in a sleeker, more combative package.

If anything, Badenoch’s rise signals a doubling down on the Conservative Party’s long-standing tradition: the perpetual search for a palatable hard-right figure who can sell the same outdated ideology under the guise of modernity. The Tories aren’t entering the 21st century, they’re simply dressing up their 20th-century politics in the latest cultural battlegrounds, hoping that nobody notices the trick.

As the party continues its slow implosion, clinging desperately to culture wars while the economy sputters and public services decay, one thing becomes clear: Badenoch may be the latest ‘fresh face,’ but the script remains unchanged. The question isn’t whether she represents the future of the Conservative Party. The question is whether the Conservative Party has a future at all.