Business Leaders Give Tories a Second Chance Over Badenoch's Pitch

Executives who were left unconvinced by Andy Burnham's economic plans are signaling they are prepared to give the Conservative Party a second chance under leader Kemi Badenoch, according to the Financial Times.

The shift, as described by the FT, marks a notable change in tone from parts of the British business community, which has spent the past year weighing competing visions for the UK economy from Labour-aligned figures and the opposition Tories.

What did the Financial Times report say?

The FT's reporting centers on a single, pointed finding: business figures who had soured on the Conservatives after years in government are now reconsidering, specifically because they remain unpersuaded by the alternative plans put forward by Burnham, the Labour-aligned mayor of Greater Manchester. The outlet frames this as executives signaling openness to giving the Tories "a second chance," rather than an outright endorsement of Badenoch's platform.

Who is Kemi Badenoch courting?

Badenoch has led the Conservative Party since its defeat in the last general election, and her pitch to business appears to be gaining traction with executives who want clearer signals on economic policy than they feel they are getting elsewhere. The FT's sourcing points to a pattern of private conversations among business leaders rather than a single public announcement, though the full detail of those conversations sits behind the Financial Times paywall.

Why are executives unconvinced by Andy Burnham?

The FT summary does not detail the specific contents of Burnham's plans that have failed to land with business audiences. What is clear from the reporting is that the dissatisfaction is specific enough, and widespread enough among the executives surveyed, to register as a measurable swing back toward the Conservatives rather than a vague expression of discontent with Labour-aligned politics generally.

What happens next for UK business and politics?

The FT's account leaves open how durable this reconsideration will prove, and whether it reflects a broader trend across sectors or a narrower group of executives reacting to recent developments. Neither Badenoch's office nor Burnham's has been quoted directly in the material reviewed for this report.

What to watch

• Whether Badenoch's team moves to formalize outreach to the business figures described in the FT report, through policy announcements or direct engagement.
• Whether Burnham or Labour allies respond publicly to address the specific concerns raised by executives.
• Any follow-up reporting from the Financial Times or other outlets naming specific companies, sectors, or executives involved in the shift.
• Polling or survey data from business groups that could confirm or complicate the trend described in the FT's sourcing.

Readers seeking the full account of which executives were consulted and what specifically swayed them should consult the original Financial Times report, which sits behind a subscriber paywall.