Conservative Conference LIVE: Kemi Badenoch appears to compare Nigel Farage to a PIG in keynote speech before Tory leader unveils policy bonanza

Labour accuses Kemi Badenoch of being 'in complete denial' after keynote speech

Labour accused Kemi Badenoch of being in “complete denial” after her speech to the Conservative party conference.

Anna Turley, Labour’s chairwoman, said: “Kemi Badenoch is in complete denial. The public saw the Tories’ disastrous blueprint for Britain across their 14 years of failure in government – and the Conservatives still won’t apologise for the mess they left.

“Kemi Badenoch set herself a new ‘golden economic rule’ today and broke it immediately. It’s the same old Tories, with the same old policies without a plan. They didn’t work then and you can’t trust them now.

“Only Labour can renew Britain. Real wages have grown more in the first 10 months of this Labour Government than in the first 10 years under the Tories. Only Labour can be trusted to grow our economy, secure our borders, and make working people better off.”

Zack Polanski slams Kemi Badenoch as 'painfully out of touch'

Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticised Kemi Badenoch’s conference speech as “painfully out of touch” with most of the country.

He said: “While she got rounds of applause from men in suits sitting in front of her, she still sounds painfully out of touch with those dressed and ready to work for this country.

“You can’t preach about a ‘strong economy’ while protecting the wealth of billionaires and underfunding the nurses, teachers and carers who keep this country going.

“When she says 'work is the best way out of poverty', she shows her ignorance of the millions of Brits who are earning poverty wages, not enough to live on, let alone thrive.”

He said the Conservatives were blaming the borders for people being unable to pay bills.

“This is a lie, and the truth is simple. Our borders are being used as a distraction," he added.

“If the Government taxed the super-rich and the extreme wealth properly, we could rebuild our NHS, invest in green jobs and give everyone the security they deserve.”

Poll reveals majority of Britons believe stamp duty is 'unfair' tax

The majority of Britons believe stamp duty to be an "unfair tax", new polling has shown.

According to You Gov, 40 per cent of people said stamp duty was unfair, while 21 per cent of people described it as fair and another 21 per cent said they think "neither" opinion.

Kemi Badenoch pledged in her keynote speech today that the next Conservative government would scrap stamp duty, describing it as a "barrier" for first-time buyers.

'All the focus' should be on the Tories over collapse of alleged Chinese spy trial, says Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has sought to blame the previous Tory administration for the collapse of the trial of alleged Chinese spies.

The Prime Minister said “all the focus” should be on the Conservatives who were in power at the time of the alleged offences.

He was speaking after the country’s chief prosecutor blamed ministers for failing to provide the crucial evidence needed to proceed.

The Tories have now demanded that the Prime Minister explains himself to Parliament.

Speaking during his trade trip to India, Sir Keir said: “We were disappointed that the trial didn’t proceed, but the position is very clear that the trial would have had to take place on the basis of the situation as it was at the time under the previous Tory government.”

Sir Keir, a former director of public prosecutions (DPP), added: “Now that’s not a political to and fro, that’s a matter of law. You have to prosecute people on the basis of the circumstances at the time of the alleged offence.

“So all the focus needs to be on the policy of the Tory government in place then. That’s the only place that the evidence could be focused on. And I think that provides a sort of ray of spotlight into some of the issues that have been swirling around.”

Next Conservative Government to abolish stamp duty, Kemi Badenoch reveals

Kemi Badenoch said the next Conservative Government will abolish stamp duty.

She described stamp duty as a "bad" and "un-Conservative" tax, saying it is a "barrier" in the housing market.

"Scrapping stamp duty will benefit people of all ages," she said.

She added: "We must free up our housing market. A society where no one can afford to buy or move is a society where social mobility is dead.”

Mrs Badenoch said the measure will help achieve the dream of home ownership “for millions”.

Kemi Badenoch pledges to 'shut down rip-off university courses' 

The Conservative Party leader says she wants less young people to be lumbered with university fees and instead take up alternative routes in life.

She talked up the opportunities that apprenticeships can offer, citing her own experiences.

Mrs Badenoch said her apprenticeship gave her the self-confidence that her two university degrees never did.

“And unlike my degrees, I wasn’t left with any debt”, she added.

“So we will shut down these rip-off courses and use the money to double the apprenticeship budget.”

Kemi Badenoch promises to free police in bid to 'protect the public, not to chase political correctness'

The Tory leader has promised to crack down on wasted police hours and end strike action taken by doctors.

She said: “We are going to free the police to protect the public, not to chase political correctness.

“Right now, our police are spending 800,000 hours every single year waiting with mental health patients.

“That’s the equivalent of 400 police officers doing nothing else all year except waiting around.

“No more. Every single officer we free from pointless paperwork.

“We will put back on our streets. We will send them after the shoplifters making life a misery for high streets. And we will triple stop and search because the more people we stop and search the more knives we take off the streets.

“Across public services we are developing similarly detailed plans to make things work better.

“In the NHS, industrial action has kept waiting lists high for far too long.

“Enough is enough. We will ban doctors from going on strike.

“In education, Labour have bent over to the teaching unions – and are removing our academy freedoms which have been so successful.

“We will reverse this act of educational vandalism and we will make sure that brilliant schools and teachers have the freedom to do what they do best because education should be how people change their lives.”

Kemi Badenoch introduces 'golden economic rule' as she accuses Rachel Reeves of 'stealing from our children'

Kemi Badenoch has unveiled a new "golden economic rule" and pledged to bring down taxes as she accused Rachel Reeves of "stealing from our children".

She said: "So today, I am introducing a new golden economic rule.

"Every pound we save, will be put to work. At least half will go towards cutting the deficit.

"Because living within our means is our first priority and with the rest, we will get Britain growing and bring down the taxes stifling our economy.

"Over the next decade, Rachel Reeves is going to double the deficit with her borrowing and tax doom loop

"She is stealing from our children and grandchildren and Conservatives will put an end to it."

Kemi Badenoch vows to slash bloated civil service 

The civil service will be drastically reduced and will resemble what we saw in 2016, Kemi Badenoch has told Tory delegates.

Mrs Badenoch said the Civil Service has “swelled” by over a third since Brexit and the Covid pandemic but has failed to show signs of improvement.

“We are going to reverse this”, she said.

“We are going to cut the civil service back to where it was in 2016.”

Kemi Badenoch unveils plan to clamp down on benefits 

"British benefits for British citizens”, Kemi Badenoch has promised in her keynote speech.

She says the measure is a common sense move as she set out her welfare system pledges.

Those with anxiety or mild depression will miss out under Mrs Badenoch’s plans, as she plans to limit them to people with more severe mental health conditions.

“These challenges are real, and people should get support, but they cannot be treated as a reason for a lifetime off work”, she said.

Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corby and Ed Davey 'all shaking the same magic money tree', Kemi Badenoch says

Kemi Badenoch says Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corby and Ed Davey are "all shaking the same magic money tree".

"Let’s look at what’s on offer out there for all those disappointed by Labour: Reform promising free beer tomorrow, Jeremy Corbyn promising free jam, Lib Dems promising free lentils, all of them promising more spending," she said in her speech.

"Blowing up the public finances. Whether it’s Starmer, Farage, Corbyn or Davey: all these men are shaking the same magic money tree.

"Following the same, failed playbook. No plan for growth, no honesty about the scale of the challenges, and it always leads to the same result."

Kemi Badenoch compares Reform UK to a pig in speech 

The speech has now turned to Reform UK, who continue to dominate the Conservatives in the polls.

Kemi Badenoch referenced a quote by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, saying “never wrestle with a pig… you both get dirty, and the pig likes it".

The Tory leader vowed to do “something better” in her bid to stave off the threat of Reform.

She also said Nigel Farage’s party is “promising free beer”.

References to Reform UK have been scant throughout Mrs Badenoch’s speech, but she was keen to land a swipe.

'We will scrap tax on family farms, businesses and unemployment bill' - Kemi Badenoch 

Kemi Badenoch has promised to undo several of Labour’s introduced taxes.

She said: “To fix our country, we must reverse Labour’s measures.

“So we will cancel their vindictive tax on education, we will scrap their tax on family farms, we will scrap their tax on family businesses, and we will reverse the terrible measures in Angela Rayner’s Unemployment Bill - written by the unions, for the unions.

“A bill that will wrap firms in red tape, cost business £5 billion and make Angela Rayner one of the last people in Britain to ever be legally sacked!”

Kemi Badenoch attacks Rachel Reeves over looming 'Budget of doom'

Kemi Badenoch has took aim at Rachel Reeves in her closing speech, saying she has "broken" Britain's economy".

She said: “Attacking those who work hard, destroying business confidence, forcing wealth creators to leave the country, piling debt onto our children.

“We know, that in her November Budget of Doom she will give us all something to cry about.

“The highest business taxes since the 1970s, taxes on farmers, taxes on education - an unprecedented tax punishing parents who work hard to invest in their children’s future. Shameful.

“The tax burden is so high it is making Britain poorer.

“Because business is giving up, business is leaving, and as they leave or never start in the first place, people’s livelihoods, people’s hopes…people’s dreams…go with them.

“Grangemouth refinery gone, Merck, BMW, Ineos pulling investment, schools for children with special needs, are shutting their doors, farmers feeling they’ve got no way out, the London Stock Exchange dropping out of the world’s top 20 for listings.

“Our party knows that a job is the best route out of poverty.

“We got unemployment to a 40-year low, and what has happened since Labour came in?

“A jobs tax, unemployment up. Inflation up. Borrowing up.

“These are the real-life consequences of a weak, directionless Government.”

Kemi Badenoch takes swipe at Keir Starmer over sacking of Lord Peter Mandelson 

This year, the Prime Minister was asked to name his best moment in office. Do you know what he said? ‘Walking into Downing Street.’

“For once, I agree with him. It’s all been downhill from there.

“An anti-corruption minister under investigation for corruption, a homelessness minister who made her own tenants homeless, a Housing Secretary sacked for dodging housing taxes.”

“You couldn’t make this stuff up, Conference. We had a transport secretary fired for stealing a phone, and our Ambassador in Washington thrown out in disgrace.

“There is an old joke, that a diplomat is someone sent abroad to lie for their country. Well at least in Peter Mandelson they had a man of experience.”

Kemi Badenoch says 14 years of Conservative power delivered 'great things' 

The Conservative leader is keen to stress that Labour’s blame-game does not ring fully true.

Mrs Badenoch said in her speech that the Tories slashed the deficit between 2010 and 2020, while getting millions more into work.

She pointed to the Tories’ record on English schools, which she said went “soaring up the international league tables”.

The party leader said: “We led the coalition against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But Conference, the truth is, we didn’t always fight hard enough for what we believed in.

“We need to remember who we are fighting for. We are fighting for people who work hard and do the right thing.

“We are fighting for people who ask ‘why do sickness benefits pay more than the minimum wage?’

“More than the living wage even.

“We are fighting for small business owners, people who take risks and get things done.

“We are fighting for the victims of crime, they want to know that we are on their side. That criminals will face the full force of the law. We are fighting for the farmers, putting food on our tables.”

Kemi Badenoch slams 'utterly useless, weak Prime Minister' in speech

Kemi Badenoch has slammed Sir Keir Starmer as "utterly useless" and "weak".

She told the Tory conference: "Just look at the spectacle we saw in Liverpool last week.

"Minister after Minister failing to rule out the tax rises we all know are coming.

"The Mayor of Manchester touting his own manifesto for the country.

"But to be honest I can’t blame Andy Burnham for that one.

"Who doesn’t want to get rid of this utterly useless weak Prime Minister?

"After five years as Labour leader, people still don’t know what Keir Starmer stands for.

"And you know what the real problem is? He doesn’t know himself."

Kemi Badenoch highlights Conservative Party achievements 

The Tory party leader told Conservative Party delegates: “Time and time again, we have been the only party that is bold enough to do what is needed.

“The only party that is competent enough to do it properly.

“We were bold enough to create the modern police force, to introduce free state education for every child.

“We were Radical enough to launch the Right to Buy, to free the workplace from the dead hand of the state, to give working men the vote and — better late than never — women too.

“We were courageous enough to introduce same-sex marriage.

“And of course, brave enough to take Britain out of the European Union - honouring the biggest democratic mandate in our history.

“All, Conservative, achievements.”

Britain is stagnating, Kemi Badenoch warns 

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says “Britain is stagnating” while the rest of the world moves on.

She says the country is competing with “restless and ambitious” countries worldwide.

Mrs Badenoch cited Poland as a rapidly developing country, saying their workers no longer view Britain as the opportunity-filled nation it once was.

Kemi Badenoch references 'broken immigration model' which is 'heaping pressure' on Britain

Kemi Badenoch has made reference to the "broken immigration model" which is "heaping pressure" on Britain.

She said: "We are accepting hundreds of thousands of people, some with many dependents, some with no skills at all.

"This broken immigration model is heaping pressure on our public sector. A public sector which already every year, demands more and more of our money,

"But services don’t get better, they get worse. Everyone in this room knows what I am talking about.

We have all felt it. We used to ring up our GP and get an appointment the same day.

"Now we have to wait on the phone to see if we’re one of the lucky ones.

"We have potholes that have been around so long people are holding birthday parties for them."

Kemi Badenoch says Tories are 'only party that can tear up broken political model' 

Kemi Badenoch has said the Conservatives are the only party capable of tearing up a "broken political model".

She said: "We have steered this country through its darkest days.

"And today, we must be ready to do the same again.

"Because we are the only party that has the vision, the courage and the competence to tear up a broken political model.

"Deliver a new blueprint for our country and together take Britain into an era of prosperity and security."

'Weak borders allow people to exploit our generosity' - Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch said the Tories will "save Britain" from the "steady decline" brought on by a "weak economy and weak borders".

Delivering her closing speech at the Conservative party conference, she said: "Weak borders allow people to exploit our generosity, put our housing and public services under pressure and fracture our sense of who we are as a nation.

"A weak economy and weak borders mean steady decline. I reject that fate.

"Together, we Conservatives will save Britain from that fate."

Kemi Badenoch taking to stage at conference

Kemi Badenoch is taking to the stage to deliver her closing speech at the Conservative party conference in Manchester.

She is set to unveil a “golden rule” to drive down the deficit and reveal her party’s plans to boost the economy and cut taxes.

Reform leads in polls amid last day of Tory conference 

Reform UK is leading in the polls amid the final day of the Conservative conference in Manchester.

According to a More in Common poll on voting intention, 33 per cent of Britons said they back Nigel Farage's party.

The Conservatives are meanwhile trailing behind in third place, with 19 per cent.

Shadow ministers 'preparing nuclear option to oust Kemi Badenoch in just weeks'

Shadow ministers are considering resigning in hopes of sparking a leadership contest and ousting Kemi Badenoch, it is understood.

Concerned MPs in the Tory leader's shadow cabinet may take the "nuclear" option of stepping down from their roles to force her departure.

A number of leading party figures could put forward letters of no confidence as soon as November 2, sources told The Times, who went on to claim rumours are swirling of one or more shadow ministers resigning.

A YouGov poll published on Monday suggested half of Conservative members did not want Mrs Badenoch to lead the party into the next election, while Robert Jenrick was their top choice to replace her.

The Shadow Justice Secretary has however avoided making disloyal comments about the party leader and urged the "survivors" of the 2024 election to "get behind Kemi".

'There's a lot of bluster from Reform', says Kevin Hollinrake 

Reform UK offers “a lot of bluster”, but the Conservatives need to “make our case” and present a positive vision, Kevin Hollinrake has said.

Asked whether the lack of a major defection to Reform meant the party was not as big a threat to the Tories as it claimed to be, the Conservative chairman said: “There’s a lot of bluster from Reform, to be quite honest with you.

“But it’s important that we make our case. We’re trying to look forward and not just stand here and criticise any other party.

“We want to talk about a positive vision for the UK.

“That’s what Kemi Badenoch is doing today, talking about a stronger economy which allows us to control spending, which will mean lower taxes and lower debt.”

He added that he expected to see improvement in the polls following the Tory conference this week.

"I think those messages have been very well received this week by our members, very optimistic view of where we are today from our members and indeed the future", Mr Hollinrake said.

"So yeah, we expect things to improve in terms of our political fortunes."

Cabinet Minister refuses to say if China is threat to Britain's national security

Emma Hardy has refused to say if China is considered a threat to Britain's national security after the collapse of the trial of alleged Chinese spies.

When asked by GB News if by refusing to declare China an active threat the Government had given China a free pass to spy on Britain, the floods minister said "no absolutely not".

Ms Hardy refused to say if China is considered a threat to national security, saying: "We consider that China is a challenge to us.

"We have a different relationship with China, it is a large trading partner so we cooperate where we need to cooperate, but we also challenge where we need to challenge.

"As with every single country, everything is under constant evaluation."

The head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has blamed the Government for the collapse of the Chinese spy trial.

Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said in a damning letter the CPS had spent "many months" attempting to secure witness statements which confirmed China was a threat to the UK.

Keir Starmer's face plastered on billboards as he arrives in Mumbai 

Posters and billboards featuring Sir Keir Starmer’s face were plastered across Mumbai as he arrived for his visit to India.

Hundreds of huge billboards across the city included a photograph of the Prime Minister standing alongside his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi from their meeting at Chequers in July, with the two leaders shaking hands.

The billboards also featured either bold orange or blue backgrounds, alongside the message “Paving the way for a vibrant new era of India-UK partnership”.

Other smaller posters with an image of Sir Keir alone, and the words “warm welcome”, stood alongside Mumbai’s motorways. Musicians and street performers in colourful costumers also lined the streets of the city as Sir Keir arrived.

Voting begins in Labour deputy leadership race begins

Voting is underway today for Labour's next deputy leader.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, are going head-to-head in the contest, which was triggered by Angela Rayner’s resignation as deputy leader over her tax affairs.

Results are expected to be announced on October 25.

Ms Powell, who was sacked from the Cabinet in a reshuffle in September, has been supported by Lord Kinnock – who led the party from 1983 to 1992 – while Ms Phillipson has had the backing of unions including GMB and Unison, as well as former home secretary Alan Johnson.

Tory party Chairman defends Robert Jenrick over 'white faces' comment

Kevin Hollinrake has defended Robert Jenrick over his comment that he “didn’t see another white face” during a visit to Handsworth in Birmingham.

The Conservative party Chairman told GB News: "He was stating absolute fact. There are some communities around the country where it is a monoethnic and that is not something I think any of us can be comfortable with.

"We want to make sure we have a diverse community that is good but it should be integrated and I think there are lots of communities around the UK that are not integrated.

"This isn't isolated to Birmingham there are other communities - you go to Dewsbury, you go to Bradford, you go to Leicester.

"It is not to do with skin culture this is about culture. We don't want a situation where people are living separate lives - parallel lives with a completely different culture."

Kemi Badenoch to set out 'golden economic rule' in party conference speech

Kemi Badenoch will set out a "golden rule" to drive down the deficit and reveal her party's plans to boost the economy in her leader's speech as she closes the Conservative Party conference.

The Tories have sought to put a stronger economy and stronger borders at the centre of their agenda for the conference.

Mrs Badenoch has already confirmed a policy to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and deport 150,000 people a year.

In her speech today, she will turn to the economy, setting out a “golden rule” that half of all money saved from cuts must be put towards driving down the deficit.

The other half would go on spending or cutting taxes to boost the economy.

It follows the party’s pledge to cut £47billion of spending by restricting welfare and shrinking the Civil Service.

She is expected to say: “It starts with fiscal responsibility. We have to get the deficit down.

“And we must also show how every tax cut or spending increase is paid for. So today, I am going to introduce a new golden economic rule.

“Every pound we save will be put to work. At least half will go towards cutting the deficit.”

She will claim that Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans will see the deficit double over the next 10 years, which she will call “not sustainable” and “not fair”.

“It is stealing from our children and grandchildren. And Conservatives will put a stop to it,” she is expected to say.

Keir Starmer resists demands for more Indian visas - after nearly one million come to Britain in just five years

The Prime Minister has resisted demands to dish out even more visas to Indian workers and students in the face of growing pressure from businesses.

Travelling alongside 125 business leaders and university vice-chancellors to Mumbai, Sir Keir Starmer batted away calls from for more "high-skilled worker" visas for Indians to come and work in Britain.

He said that was "not part of the plan", and pointed out that the free trade deal agreed with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi back in July had not involved a substantial change in visa arrangements.

Sir Keir also defended the presence of university vice-chancellors on board the Mumbai-bound British Airways flight when pressed by reporters.

He said: "It's a fantastic opportunity for us to provide university education in India for people.

"There's no question of visas. This is just a fantastic opportunity - and that's why they are with us.

"They want to build out that side of their business and a very good thing too."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Keir Starmer declares: 'I don't need lectures from Robert Jenrick' after top Tory's 'white faces' warning

Sir Keir Starmer has claimed he "does not need lectures from Robert Jenrick" amid a row over the Shadow Justice Secretary's remarks on "white faces" in Birmingham.

Speaking to GB News ahead of his arrival in India on Wednesday morning, the Prime Minister was probed on Mr Jenrick's comment that he "didn't see another white face" during a visit to Handsworth in the Second City.

On average, under 15 per cent of residents in the area were white at the time of the 2021 census, while under 10 per cent were "White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British".

In particular, Mr Jenrick was seen visiting The Broadway in Handsworth, which ranges from 5.5 to 2.8 per cent white.

But now, the Prime Minister has claimed it is "quite hard to take anything that Robert Jenrick says seriously".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE