The leader of Britain's Conservative Party, once an electoral powerhouse now facing an uncertain future, called for it to return to its roots at its annual meeting Wednesday, urging the creation of a "blueprint for Britain" based on conservative values.

Kemi Badenoch sought to turn around the woes of the party of such political titans Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, which has slumped further in polls since its resounding defeat in the 2024 general elections.

In her first party conference speech as leader, she vowed to return the party to the "same timeless Conservative principles" which once made it an election-winning machine.

The Tories were "the only party that can meet the test of our generation," she said, highlighting Britain's flagging economy and high immigration numbers.

Slamming Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer as "weak" and "useless", Badenoch largely ignored the upstart hard-right Reform UK party that is eating into Conservative support and raising questions about its political future.

"It is existential," political scientist Robert Ford said of the crisis gripping the United Kingdom's oldest........

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