Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch vowed to make major changes to inheritance tax should her party be elected in her keynote conference speech.
Kemi Badenoch promised to scrap inheritance tax on family homes and raise the threshold to £1m for a couple. Her announcement on Wednesday was met with whoops and cheers from the audience, who gave a standing ovation.
She said: “The Labour Party think it is selfish to pass on what you have earned to your children; we don't.”
Ms Badenoch added: “The Conservatives are and always have been the party of home ownership. We understand why putting roots down and having a stake in society matters... passing on your home to your family is one of the most human instincts of all.”
It comes after growing pressure on the Tory leader to slash inheritance tax, dubbed the “death tax” by its critics, though she stopped short of abolishing it completely.
She also attacked Nigel Farage, his Reform UK party and the new prime minister Andy Burnham, warning there is a “battle for the soul of the nation” in politics.
Read MoreBadenoch draws battle lines to take on Labour for ‘soul of the nation’
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Key Points
- Kemi Badenoch promises to scrap inheritance tax on family homes
- Conservative leader takes brutal aim at Andy Burnham
- Badenoch warns of 'a battle for the soul of this nation'
- Analysis: Immediate difference in tone from Burnham
- Poll shows surge in support for Nigel Farage's Reform UK
Another black hole in the finances?
16:15 , Sian ElvinThe Liberal Democrats said there was a £33 billion “black hole” in the Tories’ policy pledges.
The party says its own costings analysis suggests the Conservatives have racked up £61.8 billion in tax cuts and spending pledges but only put forward £28.8 billion in claimed savings to pay for them.
Tory officials say their total aggregate savings with reprioritisations amount to £83.3 billion and their total commitments with reprioritisations amount to £46 billion.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “This £33 billion black hole proves that ‘Kemistry’ is just Trussonomics 2.0.
“Kemi Badenoch is lecturing the country on fiscal responsibility while making tens of billions in unfunded promises – a dangerous experiment destined to blow up the public finances.
“The British people are sick to death of paying the price for Conservative financial failure – with higher taxes, skyrocketing mortgage rates, crumbling public services, and an economy being throttled by their failure of a Brexit deal. It’s clear the Conservative Party has learned nothing.
“Liberal Democrats will stand up and fight a shameless Conservative Party steeped in fiscal irresponsibility, and we will act as the firewall stopping Badenoch from handing the keys of Number 10 to Nigel Farage.”
British Chambers of Commerce welcomes national insurance plans
15:48 , Sian ElvinJonny Haseldine, head of business environment policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The leader of the opposition’s decision to put business-led economic growth at the heart of her conference speech is one that will resonate with firms.
“She rightly identified the damaging impact rising costs are having on businesses across the UK. Our cost stack calculator shows domestic policies from successive governments, since 2016, have increased business costs by over 70 per cent.
“Her pledge that any future Conservative government would halve employer national insurance contributions for under 25s is an encouraging signal. However, a full employer NICs cut for young people is needed if we are to tackle the ongoing youth employment crisis.
“Badenoch’s announcement on inheritance tax will also chime with many of the family businesses in our membership. Firms need a tax regime that rewards investment, supports growth and provides the certainty they need to plan for the future.”
But he added Kemi Badenoch made “disappointing” comments dismissing “serious discussion” over the UK’s relationship with the EU.
'Tories are a party for inherited wealth, not workers'
15:20 , Sian ElvinResponding to Kemi Badenoch’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference, Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Paul Nowak said: "It takes some gall for the Tories to wax lyrical about a stronger economy after crashing the pound, hammering living standards with austerity, and overseeing 14 years of anaemic growth. The Conservatives only know the right way to economic ruin and hardship.
"Consecutive Tory governments tested their crackpot schemes for a low-rights, low-investment economy to destruction - and working people are still paying the price."
On the pledge to cut inheritance tax, Paul added: “This is a tax paid only by the very richest estates – 95 per cent pay no inheritance tax at all. Cutting it would do nothing for ordinary people.
“This is the same old Tory playbook: cutting taxes for their rich mates and leaving working people to pick up the bill. They are a party for inherited wealth, not workers.”
Labour say 'the Tories haven't changed'
14:58 , Sian ElvinLabour said the Tories were “prioritising the wealthiest” and doing nothing to help ordinary cash-strapped families.
Responding to Kemi Badenoch’s leader’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference, Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson said: “The Tories haven’t changed.
“Kemi Badenoch has shown that the Tories’ choice is to do nothing to help ordinary families struggling with the cost of social care, prioritising the wealthiest instead. Only Labour will build a national care service, with free personal care for all older people who need it.
“Kemi Badenoch’s Tories wouldn’t take this country the ‘right way’. They would put Britain into reverse with the same Tory failures that crashed our economy and left public services crumbling. That’s not a future anyone wants to see.
“Andy Burnham is bringing back hope to Britain, by driving good growth in every postcode, giving people vital breathing space on the cost of living and by putting power back into people’s hands right across the country.”
Zack Polanski is now less popular than Nigel Farage
14:45 , Sian ElvinAccording to a new poll from More in Common, leader of the Green Party Zack Polanski’s popularity has fallen by four points to -28.
Burnham receives a 5 point boost to his approval ratings to +16, Badenoch rises by two +2, Ed Davey is down two to -10, Lowe falls by 4 to hit a low of -15, Nigel Farage is steady at -24 and Polanski falls 4 to -28. pic.twitter.com/qeBuqoKMxo
— Luke Tryl (@LukeTryl) October 7, 2026
Analysis: Badenoch revives one of the Tories’ most popular policies – but is anyone listening?
14:32 , David MaddoxTory leader takes inspiration from George Osborne’s 2007 speech to win back voters – but it might not be enough to turn the party’s fortunes around...
Badenoch revives one of the Tories’ most popular policies – but is anyone listening?
Kemi Badenoch spoke for more than an hour
14:14 , Sian ElvinKemi Badenoch’s speech at her party’s conference in Birmingham lasted one hour and six minutes, almost matching the length of prime minister Andy Burnham’s address in Liverpool last week.
Mr Burnham spoke for around one hour and five minutes.
Reform claims only 2% of UK households would benefit from Badenoch's inheritance tax cuts
13:53 , Joe MiddletonReform UK claimed only 2 per cent of British households would benefit from Kemi Badenoch’s plans to scrap inheritance tax on family homes.
The party pointed to analysis by the estate agent Savills to support its claim, which also said the majority of homeowners who would benefit from the change would be based in London.
Reform’s Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick said: “As usual, Kemi has chickened out of doing anything big. Presumably, it’s because she couldn’t match Reform’s pledge to resign if she doesn’t deliver on her promises.
“While the Tory Party is offering handouts to multi-millionaires, Reform will give everyone a £500 tax cut by raising the tax-free personal allowance to £15,000. The Tory Party is looking after its own in Kensington, Reform is looking after the country.
“She’s for the 2 per cent, we’re for 98 per cent.”
'Something for everyone'
13:48 , Sian ElvinKemi Badenoch said the Tories have “something for everyone” as she rattled off a list of pledges at the end of her conference speech.
She said the Conservatives would “deport illegal migrants, not house them” and protect your privacy “if you’re a woman who knows biological sex is real”, as well as scrapping stamp duty and bringing down interest rates on student loans.
The party would help under-25s get into work and protect pensions for retirees, she said.
“And if you want to pass on your home to your family, we will make sure you don’t pay a penny in tax.
“We have something for everyone.”
Analysis: Badenoch seeks inspiration from Osborne to revive Tory fortunes
13:46 , Joe MiddletonThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports from conference:
Kemi Badenoch is attempting to recapture a moment in recent Tory history which spurred her party on to what at the time seemed to be an unlikely election victory.
Back in 2009 the then shadow chancellor George Osborne spooked Gordon Brown’s Labour government by announcing the Tories would raise the threshold on inheritance tax.
The move at the Tory conference that year scared Mr Brown so much that he ditched his plan for an early election and actually introduced the policy himself.
The following election in 2010 overseen by Mr Osborne saw David Cameron’s Conservative Party emerge victorious as the largest party and head into a coalition government with the Lib Dems.
Now in her speech 17 years later, Ms Badenoch is using the hatred of inheritance tax again to try to fuel what appears to be an unlikely Tory revival with the party languishing at around 20 per cent in the polls and still in third place before both Labour and Reform UK.
The Tories argue that contrary to current figures that only one in five are affected by inheritance tax, that figure is about to rise to 16 per cent.
The idea of lifting family homes out of inheritance tax altogether as well as the first £1 million of assets especially helps spark a potential revival in London and the south east of England where property prices are high but the party has lost out to the Lib Dems, Labour and Reform.
This is very much about cementing Tory support back in its former heartlands.It will not though help them in places like East Anglia or the north or England and Midlands where they are still losing out to Reform.
Those who want Ms Badenoch to reach out more to working class voters will not be happy that aspiration is limited to the well off without considering tax cuts which help more people such as a penny off income tax.
But this is a pledge that is very much about a party that is rebuilding from a low base in a political landscape which is more fractured than at any other time in modern British history.
Couples would be able to leave £1 million tax-free to their children
13:30 , Sian ElvinKemi Badenoch has said couples will be able to leave £1 million tax-free to their children under the Conservatives.
The Tory leader told the Conservative party conference that it is her ambition to abolish inheritance tax altogether after announcing the removal of inheritance tax from family homes.
She said: “But that’s not all, on top of that couples will be able to leave an additional £1 million tax-free.
“These changes mean every inheritance tax bill will be cut and the number of families paying inheritance tax will fall by more than half.
“My ambition is to abolish inheritance tax altogether, as soon as we can afford it. That can only happen with a Conservative government.
“I believe the people who work hard and save should be rewarded for that effort. So, this is my guarantee: no stamp duty when you buy your home, no mansion tax when you live in your home, and no inheritance tax on your home when you pass it to your children or grandchildren.
“That is what the next Conservative government will deliver.”
Watch: Badenoch promises to scrap inheritance tax on family homes
13:05 , Sian ElvinTory leader stops short of abolishing inheritance tax completely
12:50 , Sian ElvinThe Tories are not pledging to abolish inheritance tax, Kemi Badenoch has said.
She said: “We are not abolishing inheritance tax at this conference. I know you’re disappointed.
“We could do it. We could do it, but not if we want to keep our country safe with a ‘Britannia Shield’.
“Not if we also want to keep people safe with 50,000 new prison places.
“Not if we want to cut the deficit, threatening to bankrupt our country and burdening our children.
“Governing is about choices, tough choices, and the Conservatives will not announce a tax cut without telling you how we are going to pay for it.”
Badenoch jokes about ‘export boom’ of Tory MPs going to Reform UK
12:44 , Sian ElvinAnalysis: Inheritance tax announcement not what we were expecting
12:43 , David MaddoxKemi Badenoch had been flirting with the idea of abolishing inheritance tax all conference but has confirmed in her speech that she will not completely scrap it.
Nevertheless, the more moderate measures of exempting family homes and the first £1 million in cash received a huge cheer.
But essentially this announcement was a contorted attempt to show that she is fiscally responsible with her tax cuts, making much of the need to bring down the deficit, pay for 50,000 extra prison places and the Britannia shield drone defence.
It provides clear blue water with Labour but is still an odd way to deliver what should be a big moment.
Kemi Badenoch promises to scrap inheritance tax on family homes
12:42 , Millie CookeKemi Badenoch promised to scrap inheritance tax on family homes and raise the threshold to £1m for a couple – a promise that was met with whoops and cheers from the audience, who stood up to applaud the policy.
She said: “The Labour Party think it is selfish to pass on what you have earned to your children; we don't.”
Ms Badenoch added: “What is the thing that most people want to pass on to their children and grandchildren? It is their family home.
“Conference: The Conservatives are and always have been the party of home ownership. We understand why putting roots down and having a stake in society matters.
“Our homes are where we watch our children take their first steps. They are where we gather every Christmas to put up the same decorations. Passing on your home to your family is one of the most human instincts of all.”
It comes after growing pressure on the Tory leader to slash inheritance tax, dubbed the “death tax” by its critics.
Leader calls for third runway at Heathrow
12:35 , Sian ElvinKemi Badenoch has urged the prime minister to “stop faffing about” and build a third runway at Heathrow.
Ms Badenoch pledged to make growing the economy the central principle of the next Conservative government as she told the conference: “I’ve got a plan to get Britain growing again, the kind of growth that you can actually see and feel.”
The Tory leader added: “Growth looks like graduates choosing between jobs instead of choosing between job centres.
“There will be construction jobs because we will have scrapped obscure rules like the Aarhus Convention, how many of you have heard about that? That’s what activists use to block development.
“When we are in charge, no one from Natural England will turn up with a clipboard to count all the bats and newts.
“It’s time for us to build new nuclear and not worry about whether the fish can have discos. And, yes, it’s time to finally build that third runway at Heathrow.
“Last week, Andy Burnham said Heathrow expansion was a matter for London. No, prime minister, you are not the mayor of Manchester any more. The future of our country’s busiest airport is not a regional matter, it is a matter for you. So, stop faffing about and let’s get this runway built.”
Watch: Conservatives say they will not unite with Reform
12:30 , Sian ElvinBadenoch next takes aim at Zack Polanski
12:29 , Sian ElvinKemi Badenoch has criticised the Green Party membership’s decision to back a motion declaring that “Zionism is racism”, adding: “Shame on Zack Polanski.”
The Conservative Party leader said: “Back in the day, we were the ones who put out a poster saying – ‘Labour say he’s Black, we say he’s British’. We are still that same party.
“I don’t know whether you’ve noticed, but I am Black, I am British.
“I am proud of my country. I’m proud of our history, all that we have done and all that we will do in the world.
“Our best days are not behind us and we will not let this country go backwards.
“You know what else is taking us backwards? The disgraceful antisemitism we saw at the Green Party conference in Brighton last weekend.
“They are seeking to erase Jewish identity. Shame on the Green Party and shame on (the party’s leader) Zack Polanski.”
Reflection on October 7 attacks
12:28 , Sian ElvinThe Conservative Party “stands with the Jewish people”, its leader has said, as she reflected on the October 7 attacks in 2023.
On stage at her party’s conference in Birmingham, Mrs Badenoch said: “Exactly three years ago today, we saw the horrific October 7 attacks, the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.
“The Conservative Party stands with the Jewish people.
“We will never stop fighting antisemitism.”
Badenoch compares Conservative Party to M&S
12:18 , Sian ElvinKemi Badenoch also likened the Conservative Party to the retail brand Marks and Spencer, saying the brand had been criticised for being “a bit stuffy and stuck in the past – some were even questioning whether the brand would survive”.
The Tory leader continued: “Now, M&S is back in fashion – great looks at affordable prices. They have adapted their style for today’s market and people are flooding back, including me, as you’ve probably noticed this week.
“Just like M&S, we must learn from our mistakes, win back trust and make people feel good about our party again.”
Ms Badenoch said: “I want us to win in three years’ time.
“To be honest, I want us to win next week. We are ready for an election whenever it’s called because we are the only party that understands what has gone wrong in Britain and knows how to put it right.”
Leader takes brutal aim at new prime minister
12:15 , Sian ElvinDo not let Andy Burnham “fool you with his fluttering eyelashes and his pork scratchings”, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has said.
Mrs Badenoch also criticised No 10 North, claiming it is “all make-believe” while speaking at the Conservative Party conference.
She said: “When Andy Burnham was in opposition with (Jeremy) Corbyn he didn’t feel a need to change the leader. But after Keir Starmer won a landslide, Burnham couldn’t wait to get back and take it off him.
“That is who Andy Burnham is. Don’t let this man fool you with his fluttering eyelashes and his pork scratchings.
“He said opening No 10 North was the best day of his life. Really? It’s got a fake cabinet room, a cardboard cutout of Larry the cat, and the address isn’t even No 10. It’s all make-believe.”
Ms Badenoch accused the prime minister of setting out plans for a national care service “without a plan to pay for it”, before adding reopening Brexit negotiations would be “a terrible idea”.
'We won't be written off'
12:13 , Sian ElvinAnalysis: Very clear message to Tory MPs who want to ‘unite the right’ – the answer is ‘no!’
12:13 , David MaddoxKemi Badenoch has launched a ferocious attack on Reform and its “dodgy donations”.
But her line, “for those people who say unite the right, I say not with them,” is aimed at the many MPs and former MPs, especially on the right of the party, who have been pushing for a deal with Reform.
The most prominent has been Jacob Rees-Mogg, but there have been others who have openly discussed it at conference.
Ms Badenoch’s “we are the Conservative Party” is a message to them all that the Tories will not be shaking hands with Nigel Farage.
Tributes paid to Ann Widdecombe and Jeffrey Archer
12:11 , Sian ElvinStrongest response from the audience has been to attacks on Reform
12:10 , Millie CookeSo far, Kemi has received her strongest response in the room when she took aim at Reform's divisive approach to politics.
She has received four standing ovations in the space of about five minutes as she decried Reform politicians for suggesting that only white people can be truly British.
The Tory leader has dedicated a significant portion of the speech to hitting out at Nigel Farage, insisting that she "will not let this country go backwards".
Badenoch pleads with Reform voters to ‘come home’
12:09 , Athena StavrouKemi Badenoch has hit out at Reform politicians, as she called on Reform voters to “come back home” to the Conservative Party.
Ms Badenoch said Reform voters “deserve better” than Nigel Farage and other Reform figures, who she criticised over their financial affairs.
“Do you know who else deserves better? Reform voters,” she said.
“Many of them are our people. We let them down, and we want them to come back home.”
She added: “A year ago, those politicians were measuring up the curtains for Number 10. Now, some of them are measuring up the curtains for their prison cells.”
Another standing ovation as leader declares 'the country deserves better'
12:07 , Millie CookeKemi Badenoch has received another enthusiastic standing ovation as she declared: "The country deserves better and we are going to give them better".
She went on to insist that Reform voters also "deserve better", wheeling out a list of the party's failings, and saying “we are not uniting with that”.
Badenoch accuses Burnham of reopening the Brexit debate
12:06 , Kate DevlinThe Tory leader said the PM “wants to reopen the Brexit debate. Can you imagine having to go through that again?”
She said the country lost “so much time... arguing with ourselves, arguing with the EU, going round and round in circles, businesses not knowing whether they should invest. He wants to do it all again. I think that is a terrible idea.”
Last week the PM said he would consider a number of options – including rejoining and the status quo – for a closer relationship with the EU.
We are ready for an election, Badenoch insists
12:05 , Athena StavrouKemi Badenoch has insisted the Conservatives are “ready for an election” now, despite the party still suffering low approval ratings in the polls.
The Tory leader said her party is ready “whenever [an election] is called”, telling conference that the Conservatives are “the only party that understands what has gone wrong in Britain and knows how to put it right”.
“I want us to win three years' time. To be honest, I want us to win next week,” she said.
“We are ready for an election, whenever it's called, because we are the only party that understands what has gone wrong in Britain and knows how to put it right.”
Analysis: Doing the job a running theme for Kemi Badenoch
12:00 , David MaddoxKemi Badenoch’s viral moment of telling Wes Streeting “do your job” is something she is leaning into a lot in this speech.
She lists out her shadow cabinet members who “did their job” like shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy forcing a U-turn on jury trials, or shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins forcing a U-turn on the family farm tax.
She has listed the qualities she wants in candidates standing at the next election, but number one is “people who know how to get stuff done, not just talk a good game.”
Ms Badenoch knows her party suffers from a sense among the public that it failed to do what it promised to do in government. She wants a change of culture in the Tory party.
Jokes made about 'export boom' of Tory MPs going to Reform UK
11:54 , Millie CookeKemi Badenoch received laughs in the room as she joked the Tories have had an "export boom" of MPs going to Reform, dubbing them "drama queens".
The Conservative Party leader acknowledged her party’s record of chaos while in office, but insisted it has “acknowledged our mistakes”.
“We have set out what this party believes. We are making it clear that those beliefs are expected of everyone who stands for us. In the past, we had people who used our party to get elected and then betrayed our values. I am building a united team of people, a team motivated by public service, not self-service,” she said.
“In 2024, voters gave their verdict on the rows, the plots, the infighting. Remember all that drama? The Conservatives have had an export boom of drama queens going to Reform.”
She added: "This party is now the drama-free party. We are the no-nonsense party."
Kemi Badenoch receives her first standing ovation as she vows to win next election
11:53 , Millie CookeKemi Badenoch received a standing ovation as she vowed to win the next election "for everyone who wants to see our country united".
It was her first standing ovation during the speech, coming almost 20 minutes into her address.
'The world is becoming more dangerous'
11:51 , Sian ElvinKemi Badenoch claimed that where Labour “believe economic growth is created by politicians”, her party was “fighting again for the belief that what people earn belongs to them, not government”.
The Conservative Party leader said her party believed “that spending money we don’t have on things we cannot afford is not kind; it is reckless”.
She continued: “The world is becoming more dangerous.
“Western economies are becoming more fragile.
“We are running out of money and running out of time to put it right.”
Conservative leader warns her party won’t be written off
11:50 , Sian ElvinThe Tory leader told her party faithful: “Let me tell you, I'm not someone who gets written off, and neither is the Conservative Party.”
And she asked: “Keir Starmer. Remember him?
“Last year he was talking about being in power for a decade. Now he's not even an MP. Life comes at you pretty fast.”
Video: Badenoch warns of ‘battle for the soul of this nation’
11:48 , Sian ElvinAnalysis: Immediate difference in tone between Badenoch and Burnham
11:45 , David MaddoxWhen Andy Burnham gave his speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, it was clear he was speaking to the activists in the room more than the audience watching outside.
He even admitted as such in his speech.
But Ms Badenoch is projecting her message to the audience outside with her message of a fight and attack on a Labour government coming after you with higher taxes.
The approaches represent the different needs of the two leaders. Mr Burnham needed to heal a wounded party after Sir Keir Starmer’s ousting.
Ms Badenoch needs to persuade a country still sceptical of the Tories that they are worthy of governing again.
Kemi Badenoch opens conference speech by warning of 'a battle for the soul of this nation'
11:42 , Athena StavrouKemi Badenoch has taken to the stage to deliver her major speech to close the Conservative Party conference.
The Tory leader was met with a standing ovation as she began her address by saying: “There is a fight coming in British politics, a fight that we have not seen in this country for more than half a century. It will be a battle for the soul of this nation.”
She accused Andy Burnham’s Labour of wanting to “wind back the clock to failed ideas of the past”, in a major speech expected to be centred on tax-cutting promises.
First pictures of Kemi Badenoch delivering her speech
11:42 , Sian Elvin
Tories capitalising on Starmer's chaotic time in office
11:40 , Millie CookeThe Conservatives are attempting to capitalise on Sir Keir Starmer's chaotic time in office, playing out a video showing the former prime minister's defence of disgraced peer Peter Mandelson.
The focus on a prime minister who is no longer in office is a concerning tactic – as it suggests they're aware they're struggling to compete with Andy Burnham directly.
However, the sections of the montage that showcased Ms Badenoch's abilities as a party leader have gone down remarkably well among the audience, with the Tory leader receiving a standing ovation as she walked onto the stage.
Kemi Badenoch takes to the stage
11:38 , Sian ElvinThe Conservative Party leader is now delivering her closing speech to the conference.
Watch live here
11:29 , Sian ElvinKemi Badenoch is due to speak shortly:
Tory front bench attempting to compete with Burnham's Labour on vibes
11:25 , Millie CookeFrom Bob the Builder jokes to Kevin Hollinrake's dog, the closing day of Tory conference has struck a remarkably chipper vibe given the party is still lagging in the polls.
Clearly, the Tories are trying to bring the fight to Andy Burnham when it comes to charisma and humour, with Mr Hollinrake, Chris Philp and Nick Timothy all dedicating a significant chunk of their main stage addresses to making jokes.
It is clear that the opposition is no longer competing with a technocratic Starmer-led Labour, but instead they are competing with Mr Burnham on vibes and energy.
National Anthem played ahead of Kemi Badenoch's speech
11:24 , David MaddoxThe members of Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet are being welcomed one by one into the room in a rather tedious effort to show that there is a strong team behind her.
But it was noticeable that while most were welcomed with polite applause and the odd cheer, one received a much louder reception.
Katie Lam, a rising star and right-winger who just was promoted to shadow housing secretary opposite Angela Rayner easily received the loudest cheer.
If Ms Badenoch is to go after the next election, many have Ms Lam as the favourite to succeed her.
The reaction of the room suggests the speculation is well founded.
The National Anthem was then played. The Tory Party leader is expected on stage shortly.
Historian David Starkey delivers embarrassing moment for Nick Timothy
11:22 , David MaddoxOne of the more right-wing events at the conference was the 92 Group drinks on Tuesday evening with a number of high-profile speakers.
First up was controversial conservative historian David Starkey, who questioned why he was still a member of the Conservative Party. He attacked recent Tory prime ministers for doing unconservative things, focusing on Lord David Cameron and Baroness Theresa May, with particular attacks on the latter’s support for creating the College of Policing.
He concluded to applause from the room packed with about 200 Tory members: “Kemi Badenoch should withdraw the whip from Theresa May.”
Unfortunately, next up was Theresa May’s former special adviser and close friend Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, who managed to keep a straight face and not address the demand.
But chair of the 92 Group Sir John Hayes said: “We can always expect something controversial from David Starkey.”
Kevin Hollinrake’s dog gets standing ovation at Tory conference
11:18 , Sian ElvinTory shadow home secretary opposes UK taking refugees from Gaza
11:15 , David MaddoxTory shadow home secretary Chris Philp has just told the conference that the UK should not be taking refugees from war-torn Gaza.
He claimed that the residents of Gaza who have suffered thousands of deaths from attacks from Israel should not be allowed into the UK because “they came out in the streets to celebrate” the murders of Israelis on 7 October 2023.
Mr Philp said that taking people from Gaza could only be stopped if the UK left the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), and used that as a reason for the Tory policy of withdrawing from it.
The call was loudly applauded by Tories in the conference hall.
