Badenoch criticized for lack of policies before elections

Lord Ben Houchen, the only Conservative metro mayor, has criticized party leader Kemi Badenoch for not doing enough to connect with voters ahead of the upcoming local elections. He believes the party needs to present solid ideas to counter the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Houchen's comments highlight concerns within the Conservative Party about its current direction. He urges the leadership to put forward decisive Tory proposals immediately rather than waiting years. He explained that politics is about taking action and making progress now, not just debating ideas in think tanks. Badenoch has been cautious in revealing her party's core policies. While she makes general statements about immigration and environmental goals, sources say she and her team are not expected to have detailed plans until 2027, ahead of a potential general election in 2028. In a recent speech, Badenoch stated that the Conservatives must create realistic and credible plans that reflect their values. She acknowledged that the public wants the party to take a step back from power for the time being. During an interview, Badenoch also defended her position on Labour's performance, arguing that Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has performed poorly but is still one of Labour's better members. She expressed concern that a replacement would be even worse for the economy. Badenoch plans to address the issues caused by Reeves' budget mistakes with an emergency budget soon.