Writing the summary…
Why Tories are talking about winning the next election
Source: BBC Politics
Original reporting
BBC Politics: read the full reportRelated stories
The Guardian
Kemi Badenoch is the most rightwing leader in Tory history. Isn’t it time she got some actual scrutiny? | Owen Jones
Farage’s scandals have allowed Badenoch to get her party back in the race. But her programme would be no less ruinous for our country The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, will march on to the conference stage in Birmingham feeling buoyed. “Kemi’s soaring,” coos the Sun , and that sums up the prevailing wisdom. More than four in 10 Britons think she is doing well as Tory leader, compared with a third who think otherwise. As Nigel Farage’s stock has plummeted thanks to scandals over a £5m personal gift and donations from crypto billionaires , the polling suggests that the Conservatives could regain the mantle of Britain’s main rightwing force. Yet Badenoch has been the beneficiary of circumstance. Her tenure as opposition leader has been defined by Keir Starmer’s project imploding almost as soon as it gained power. When Reform UK enjoyed its seismic polling lead, the Tory plight was dou
The Guardian
Badenoch denies ‘British Iron Dome’ plan – after Tories use phrase in press release
Tory leader says proposed ‘Britannia Shield’ would not be comparable to Israeli missile defence system UK politics live – latest updates Kemi Badenoch has denied she compared a new air defence system proposed by the party to Israel’s Iron Dome, despite using the term in her press release and a newspaper article. The Conservative leader said the party’s proposed “Britannia Shield” would not be comparable to the missile defence system in Israel, which is primarily designed to counter short-range attacks. Continue reading...
BBC Politics
Badenoch's £10bn air defence plan points to growing concern over protecting UK's skies
The government and the Conservatives both agree the UK needs better air defences in an increasingly dangerous world.
The Guardian
Badenoch announces £2.3bn proposal to cut employer national insurance for young workers – as it happened
The Conservative party leader said the party would halve employer national insurance on jobs worked by young people Asked if she will propose tax cuts in her speech tomorrow, Badenoch tells McCann that she will have to wait until her speech tomorrow at 11.15am. (This is getting confusing. On BBC Breakdfast, Badenoch told Jon Kay the speech was at 12pm.) It’s not going to be exactly like the Iron Dome. We haven’t called it an Iron Dome. Continue reading...
BBC Politics
I'd rather have another election than do a deal with Reform UK, says Badenoch
The Conservative Party leader also pledged to cut the cost of hiring 21 to 24 year olds.
The Guardian
Don’t mention the Iron Dome: comedy genius Kemi on warpath at Tory conference | John Crace
‘It’s a Britannia Shield’ announcement proves no one does farcical improv better than the Conservative leader Just another day in Crapland. It’s amazing what you can get used to. You can’t say the Tories haven’t put a lot of thought into their party conference. It takes some programming skill to make every day even more dismal than the last. You come expecting very little and get even less. Schopenhauer would be in dreamland. The very act of being has never felt so inconsequential. Yet there’s something very comforting about this. You leave the Birmingham theme park attraction feeling better about yourself than when you arrived. Who knew abject failure could be so much fun? You find yourself congratulating some members on being able to dress themselves. A curious hybrid of an endangered species and care in the community? Continue reading...