Kemi Badenoch delivers a combative, tax-cut-focused speech to 400 supporters in London
Kemi Badenoch addressed a crowd of about 400 at the Institution of Civil Engineers, launching a forceful attack on opponents while urging tax cuts and higher defence spending.
At a packed session in the Institution of Civil Engineers, Kemi Badenoch delivered a high-energy speech that targeted political opponents, including Andy Burnham, John Healey, and former Tory leaders, while dismissing questions from journalists. She highlighted that the defence budget she seeks is "less than a third of the increase to welfare since Labour came to office" and advocated for multiple tax cuts, repeating the word "tax" like machine-gun fire.
The gathering, attended by about 400 people, followed an opening address by shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith, who warned of upcoming budget challenges. Badenoch also mocked one outlet commentator’s query on EU matters and rebuked a Sky reporter, delivering what observers called a cinematic, aggressive performance. The event underscored the Conservative Party’s shift toward confrontational rhetoric ahead of future electoral battles.
Why it matters
The speech illustrates the Conservative Party’s increasingly aggressive style as it pushes tax cuts and defence spending ahead of upcoming elections.
How this story developed
- Sep 29 Andy Burnham signals possible UK return to the EU after condemning Brexit
- Sep 29 Labour leader Andy Burnham delivered his first conference speech, unveiling policy proposals on public ownership, pensions, and electoral reform.
- Sep 30 The Prime Minister now says re‑joining the EU is among the options the government will consider.
- Sep 30 Burnham signaled that full EU membership is among the possible routes Labour could evaluate.
- Oct 3 A new poll shows half of British adults now support rejoining the EU.
- Oct 4 Kemi Badenoch opened the Conservative conference by framing the Tories as a common-sense party, unveiling pledges on tighter welfare, prison expansion and free childcare for high-earning families.
- Oct 5 Badenoch pushed to drop the £100,000 childcare tax cap at the conference.
- Oct 6 Announced a cut to employer National Insurance for 21‑ to 24‑year‑olds from 15% to 7.5%.
- Oct 7 Badenoch announced a defence spending target of 3% of GDP.
- Oct 8 Badenoch denounced Reform UK as ethnically exclusive at the conference.
- Oct 8 Burnham announced that the pension triple‑lock will be scrapped after the next general election and its savings will fund a National Care Service.
- Oct 13 YouGov’s latest survey indicates that Reform has reclaimed the third-most-favoured position, surpassing the Conservative Party for the first time since early 2024, though the margin is within the poll’s error range. The poll suggests the Conservatives may have benefited from recent conference coverage, while Labour’s support appears to be fading. In the Commons, MP Burnham affirmed the legitimacy of recent election results but highlighted concerns over foreign actors seeking to influence UK democracy.
- Oct 18 Ipsos poll shows Conservatives have moved ahead of Reform UK in the opposition race.
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