In a political landscape marked by shifting alliances and public skepticism, the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom is searching for a way to regain its footing after a bruising defeat in the 2024 general election. As the party grapples with its image—tarnished by years of high immigration and rising taxation—its leader, Kemi Badenoch, has turned her gaze overseas for inspiration. On August 18, 2025, Badenoch publicly expressed her admiration for Argentine President Javier Milei's radical free-market reforms, signaling a potential new direction for the Tories as they seek to differentiate themselves from both Labour and the insurgent Reform UK party.
According to CapX, Badenoch’s endorsement of Milei’s approach is more than rhetorical. The Argentine president, a self-styled libertarian firebrand, has made headlines for his willingness to take a metaphorical chainsaw to his country’s bloated bureaucracy and spiraling public debt. Since Milei’s inauguration in December 2023, Argentina has witnessed a dramatic turnaround: monthly inflation, which once soared at 25%, has dropped to around 1.5% by May 2025. Even more striking, Milei has managed to secure a budget surplus—an almost unthinkable feat in a country long plagued by economic mismanagement.
This “shock therapy” economics, as some analysts have dubbed it, is best exemplified by Milei’s viral ‘¡afuera!’ video, in which he lists government departments he plans to eliminate, promising to trim the fat from the state’s balance sheet. The results have been swift and, at least in the short term, remarkable. For a Conservative Party desperate for a narrative of renewal, Milei’s success story offers a tantalizing blueprint.
But can a Milei-style revolution really take root in Britain’s very different political soil? The challenges are formidable. The Tories are not only contending with their own legacy of unpopular policies, but also with the rise of Reform UK, whose pledges to shake up the political system and borrow for tax cuts have eaten into Conservative support at the local level. As CapX notes, the party’s strategists are acutely aware that simply mimicking Reform’s tactics won’t suffice. Instead, they see an opportunity to outflank their rivals by embracing a bold, clear-eyed commitment to fiscal discipline and personal responsibility—a message they believe could resonate with voters weary of government overreach and empty promises.
“If Badenoch has the necessary courage, a Milei-ist approach of quickly cutting government spending and state size could be just the right approach to rejuvenate our economy,” writes commentator Tom Harwood in CapX. The argument is straightforward: by championing transparency, balancing the budget, and reducing the national debt, the Conservatives could tap into a deep well of public distrust toward both government and the civil service. Recent surveys reveal that just 27% of Britons trust the government, while 45% trust the civil service—figures that suggest a widespread appetite for reform, if only someone is willing to deliver it.
The appeal of Milei’s model is further bolstered by the visible hardships facing many British communities. High crime rates, dirty streets, and social divisions have fueled a sense that the status quo is unsustainable. The Tories’ critics have often accused Badenoch of being “low-energy,” but her supporters argue that she could turn this perception on its head by embracing the “madman” image that Milei has cultivated to such effect in Argentina. Rather than shying away from tough truths, they say, Badenoch should “let free-market, small-state policy speak for itself.”
Of course, the risks are real. Argentina’s rapid economic turnaround has come at a cost, and not everyone is convinced that the pain of austerity is worth the gain. As the Financial Times reported on August 18, 2025, Milei continues to face “headless opposition” at home—meaning that while his critics are disorganized, public resistance to his reforms remains a potential flashpoint. The lesson for British Conservatives is clear: while boldness is necessary, so too is a willingness to level with voters about the sacrifices involved. Milei himself has been quick to remind Argentines of the “short-term pain” inherent in his policies, urging patience as the country navigates its way back to stability.
For Badenoch and her advisers, the challenge is to craft a platform that borrows the best elements of Milei’s approach without alienating an electorate already wary of political upheaval. This means not only advocating for civil service reform and greater accountability—such as making the highest-paid bureaucrats answerable to the public when things go wrong—but also resisting the temptation to overpromise and underdeliver. As CapX points out, “Badenoch’s Conservatives need to flip the political norm of overpromising while underdelivering, and focus more on personal responsibility than on state dependency.”
There is a certain irony in the Conservatives’ predicament. Historically, the party has prided itself on being Britain’s most successful political force, capable of adapting to changing circumstances and filling policy gaps left by its rivals. Yet in the current climate, that very adaptability is being tested as never before. Reform UK’s populist surge has put pressure on the Tories to sharpen their message and offer concrete solutions to the country’s woes—solutions that go beyond the “policy sensationalism” associated with figures like Robert Jenrick and instead draw on the party’s tradition of pragmatic, evidence-based governance.
One area where the Conservatives could distinguish themselves is in their approach to fiscal transparency. While Reform UK has promised sweeping changes, critics argue that the details of how much more money Britain can realistically borrow remain murky. By contrast, a Milei-inspired Tory platform would emphasize the importance of living within the country’s means, running a surplus when possible, and paying down the national debt. This, proponents argue, is not just good economics—it’s good politics, too, as it aligns with the public’s desire for honesty and competence in government.
Yet the path forward is anything but straightforward. As the Financial Times observed, even a leader as audacious as Milei must contend with entrenched opposition and the unpredictable tides of public opinion. For Badenoch, the task is to strike a balance between radical reform and pragmatic governance, drawing on her strengths—such as her facility with statistics and her reputation for candor—to persuade a skeptical electorate that real change is both possible and necessary.
Ultimately, the Conservatives’ embrace of Milei’s example is as much about political survival as it is about policy. In a crowded field where authenticity and boldness are at a premium, the party must convince voters that it alone has the courage and clarity of purpose to tackle Britain’s mounting challenges. Whether this gamble pays off remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the stakes have rarely been higher for a party seeking to reclaim its place at the heart of British public life.
For now, Badenoch’s willingness to look beyond Britain’s borders for inspiration may offer a glimmer of hope to a party in search of renewal. As the country watches and waits, the coming months will reveal whether the Conservatives can turn admiration into action—and, just maybe, chart a path back to power.
