Lord Frost has said the mood of the Conservative Party conference is "far too positive" as he warns that the party is in an "extremely bad situation".
The senior Tory peer said Kemi Badenoch's party is "on the edge of ceasing to exist" as a political force, with the party polling in third.
Lord Frost explained that activists need to adopt a mood of reflection after losing "10 million voters since the 2019 election".
Speaking to activists at a fringe event, he said: "The mood at this conference has been far too positive. We've got to start by acknowledging the mess we're in. We've lost 10 million voters since the 2019 election. This is an appalling situation for a mainstream party.
"The obvious strategy of trying to recreate a proper, strong Conservative party is now much more difficult, because there already is another one and it's doing better than we are in the polls. It's very easy to understand why people might go: 'Why bother? One already exists'.
"Everything is getting worse, and it has been doing so consistently since November last year. No prescription for the party works unless we accept that the situation for the party is extremely bad. We're on the edge of ceasing to exist as a mainstream party."
Attendees at the event told GB News that it is "the worst it's ever been" at the conference, with another chipping in: "It's f**king dead".
The Tories are currently polling 15 points behind Reform UK in the polls, and six points behind Labour despite Sir Keir Starmer being branded the "most unpopular Prime Minister," after hitting the lowest satisfaction rate of any PM since 1977.
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Robert Jenrick pushes for 'open and honest' conversation about integration in the UK
Robert Jenrick has pushed for an 'open and honest' conversation about integration in the UK
|PA
Robert Jenrick said he wants to have an "open and honest" conversation about integration in the UK.
"I want to live in a country which is well integrated. I want people to be living side-by-side. I never want to see segregated or even ghettoised communities.
"We want people of all skin colours, of all religions, to be living in harmonious, well-integrated communities with our kids growing up alongside each other.
"And I'm afraid in certain parts of the country, there are communities where that just isn't the case, and parts of Handsworth in Birmingham, where I was earlier in the year, a place I know quite well, growing up in the West Midlands, just don't resemble that. That makes me very worried," he told Sky News.
Kemi Badenoch tells pro-Palestine protesters they are 'doing the wrong thing' demonstrating today
Kemi Badenoch told pro-Palestine protesters, "You are doing the wrong thing," demonstrating today on the anniversary of the October 7 attack.
She told LBC: "Today is the anniversary of one of the worst massacres we have seen in our lifetimes. Babies were murdered, women were raped, young people at a music festival were slaughtered.
"This does not help Palestinians; this is creating a climate of fear just two days after we saw Jews slaughtered by anti-Semitic hate."
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp echoed his leader's thoughts, saying: "Students should not be marching on this anniversary of the October 7 massacre.
"It is disrespectful and potentially intimidating to the UK's Jewish community - especially after last week's appalling terror attack in Manchester.
"Anyone at these marches expressing antisemitism or support for terror or extremism who is not a British citizen should be deported. The Government must send a zero-tolerance message with actions, not just words."
Sir Keir Starmer condemns 'un-British' Palestine protesters on October 7
Sir Keir Starmer has hit out at "un-British" pro-Palestine protestors in a message on the second anniversary of Hamas's October 7 terrorist attacks.
The Prime Minister said: "Today, we mark two years since the horrifying attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.
"Time does not diminish the evil we saw that day. The worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The brutal, cold-blooded torture and murder of Jews in their own homes. And the taking of hostages, including British citizens, some of whom remain in Gaza today.
"Since that awful day, so many have endured a living nightmare. When I spoke with some of the families of the British hostages, I promised them in person that we will not cease in our efforts to bring their loved ones home."
The terrorist massacre saw 1,200 people slaughtered and 251 civilians taken into captivity in Gaza in the largest attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Robert Jenrick speaks to GB News Breakfast ahead of speech at Tory Party conference
Robert Jenrick has spoken to GB News Breakfast ahead of his speech at the Tory Party conference.
The Shadow Justice Secretary dismissed any calls to become the party's leader, saying Kemi Badenoch is doing "a great job".
Mr Jenrick told GB News: "She did a fantastic job on Sunday announcing that we are leaving the ECHR if we are lucky enough to be in Government again in the future, and we are all rooting for her at this conference."
When questioned if he still has leadership ambitions, Mr Jenrick said: "Well, I had a go last year, didn't work out, so I am just doing my job as Shadow Justice Secretary and looking forward to speaking to party conference later today."
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT JENRICK ABOVE
Kemi Badenoch insists she will not seek an alliance with Reform UK
Kemi Badenoch insisted she will not seek an alliance with Reform UK
| PATory party leader Kemi Badenoch has insisted she will not seek an alliance with Reform UK.
When questioned about comments from former-MP Sir Jacob Reed-Mogg that the Tories could not "split the right" and win an election, she told Times Radio: "I'm not splitting the right. There is no deal to be done with Reform.
"They want to increase welfare. This conference is about living within our means. That's how we get a stronger economy. They want to nationalise. What kind of alliance are we having with them?
"The only thing that they have in common with us, really, is around immigration. We know that we need stronger borders, but we've got a plan that will work.
"Their plan, which was copied from some announcements, I think, that we made previously - they hadn't done the details behind it."
Danny Kruger raises concerns about security at military bases amid a theft at a British Army base
Danny Kruger has raised concerns about the security at military bases
| PAReform MP Danny Kruger has raised concerns about the security of military bases following a "security incident" at a British Army base in Wiltshire.
Fuel was stolen from a tanker at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Larkhill, Wiltshire, and a fence was also damaged.
Mr Kruger said: "I am concerned about security at our military bases in Wiltshire.
"I have written to the Defence Secretary to request an update on measures to prevent future breaches like this one - or worse."
Moments you may have missed from the Tory Party conference so far
In case you missed yesterday, GB News' Assistant News Editor Jack Walters shares some notable moments from the Conservative Party conference so far.
Mr Walters noted that "it was an interesting atmosphere compared to last year".
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman received perhaps the warmest reception of the first day at the Conservative Friends of Israel event last night.
A Reform bigwig was also spotted at the event yesterday.
Bridget Phillipson tells students to 'show some humanity' if considering joining pro-Palestine protests on anniversary of October 7 attacks
Bridget Phillipson urged students planning to protest today to 'show some humanity'
| PAEducation Secretary Bridget Phillipson has urged students to "pause" and "show some humanity", after a string of protests is expected at universities later today, two years on from the October 7 attacks in southern Israel.
"There is, of course, within our country, the fundamental right to protest. It's a cornerstone of our democracy.
"But my message is that, as we remember the awful atrocities that took place two years ago on October 7, I would just encourage those considering taking part in protests to pause, to reflect and to understand the deep sense of loss that many people in our country will be experiencing today, not least given the appalling attacks we saw at Manchester last week.
"So my message is that whilst you might have the right to protest, I would urge people to show some humanity, to show some respect and to understand the deep sense of grief and loss that many Jewish people in our country will be experiencing today," the Education Secretary told Sky News.
Day three getting underway at Tory party conference
Day three of the Conservative Party conference is slowly getting underway in Manchester, with some big Tory names set to speak today.
Chris Philp, Robert Jenrick, and Dame Priti Patel will all speak at the conference today, hoping to fill the auditorium, which had many empty seats yesterday.
In Mr Jenrick's speech, he will vow to abolish the Sentencing Council and is expected to set out plans to put ministers in charge of sentencing policy, arguing that the current situation has resulted in a "two-tier nightmare" with people treated differently by the courts.
Speaking today at the Tory party conference:
- 10:00am: Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary
- 10:25am: Stuart Andrew MP, Shadow Health Secretary
- 10:50am: Gender critical debate
- 11:15am: Laura Trott MP, Shadow Education Secretary
- 11:40am: Robert Jenrick MP, Shadow Justice Secretary
- 2:00pm: James Cartlidge MP, Shadow Defence Secretary
- 2:25pm: Dame Priti Patel, Shadow Foreign Secretary
- 2:50pm: Tony Abbott, former Australian PM
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