Kemi Badenoch promises tax cuts at Conservative conference in Birmingham

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch addressed delegates in Birmingham to close her party's annual conference, the Daily Mail and the Guardian reported. According to reports from HuffPost UK, The Times, and the Hexham Courant, Badenoch stated that the next election will be a battle for the soul of the nation. [1][6][9][10][11]

The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, and The Times reported that Badenoch pledged to cut taxes, specifically targeting employment taxes and inheritance tax. The Daily Mail described her proposal as a Thatcherite alternative path, while the London Evening Standard reported that her speech aimed to end a tax grab on London. [1][4][8][11]

Addressing political rivalries, BBC Politics and the Daily Mail reported that Badenoch called on former Conservative supporters and Reform UK voters to return to the party. The Independent added that Badenoch warned Conservative members they would not be allowed back if they defected, and she explicitly ruled out forming a coalition with Reform UK. [1][5][7]

Badenoch has served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party since 2024, having previously held cabinet positions under former prime ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. As FTMQ News reported earlier, her speech follows recent conference pledges by the Conservatives, including ten billion pounds for a British air defence system. [12][15][16]