Kemi Badenoch speech live: Leader proposes tax cuts as new poll shows drop in support for Conservatives

Kemi 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.

The 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.

The Conservative Party leader is now delivering her closing speech to the conference.

Kemi Badenoch is due to speak shortly:

From 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.

The 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.

One 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.”

Tory 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.