Young Conservatives Take Centre Stage at Birmingham Conference
Young Conservatives have set out how they think Britain could be better, as the party held its annual conference, its yearly gathering, in Birmingham.
The BBC published a video titled 'Young Tories say how Britain could be better' on 7 October 2026 BBC. The Conservatives said the conference ran from 4 October to 7 October in Birmingham Conservatives. The party said Kemi Badenoch was its leader. The BBC reported the Conservatives were trailing Labour and Reform UK in opinion polls BBC.
Conference announcements
The Conservatives said they published 'The Right Way' on 4 October. The party described it as a major statement of principles on how it would govern Britain differently if returned to office Conservatives. The party said James Cartlidge announced 'Britannia Shield' on 6 October, with plans to protect Britain from direct attack and investment of up to £10 billion Conservatives. The party said it published 'Defending Britain in a More Dangerous World' on the same day, setting out its plan to defend Britain Conservatives. Ms Badenoch was expected to warn of a "battle of ideas" in British politics, in a speech trailed for Birmingham Yahoo News.
Offer for young people
The Conservatives said they had unveiled a 'New Deal for Young People'. The party described the plan as fully funded Conservatives. The party said the plan includes 100,000 more apprenticeships (paid training posts that combine work with study) for 18 to 21 year olds. The Telegraph reported that Young Conservative membership is open to under-25s and had risen by 50 per cent The Telegraph.
The broader context here is familiar at party conferences. A party behind in the polls needs messengers as well as messages, like a shop thinking about both its goods and its window display. Youth wings are often kept at the fringe. Putting under-25s on camera changes that pattern, and links the membership claim to the apprenticeship offer for the same age group.
Looking at what this means for the months ahead, professionals will watch three tests. First, whether the apprenticeship pledge and the fully funded description pass detailed checks on costs, including where the money comes from and how places are shared out. Second, whether the defence figure of up to £10 billion becomes a firm spending commitment or stays as conference language. Third, whether backbenchers, MPs who are not ministers, and candidates use 'The Right Way' as a common text, or whether Birmingham is remembered mainly for presentation. On the evidence of the week, the leadership wants both argument and personnel renewal to be part of the answer.
