- Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch addressed her party’s annual conference, declaring a battle for the soul of the nation and outlining proposals to cut the 40 per cent rate of inheritance tax while warning against Labour's economic policies.
- In her speech, Mrs Badenoch said her party is “ready for an election” and identified shadow Scotland secretary Harriet Cross, shadow housing secretary Katie Lam and shadow culture secretary Rebecca Paul as “rising stars”.
- Addressing potential post-election scenarios, Mrs Badenoch confirmed she would rather fight two consecutive general elections than form a coalition government with Reform UK if a hung parliament were to occur.
- Mrs Badenoch also criticised prime minister Andy Burnham for opening the door to a Scottish independence vote and said the Tories were the only party who would “fight properly for our union”.
- She called on Reform voters to “come back home” to the Conservative Party, and said voters “deserve better” than Nigel Farage and other Reform figures, who she criticised over their financial affairs.
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