Badenoch launches furious attack on Reform UK in conference speech

After Andy Burnham’s emotional speech last week, the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch showed she can do passion too. Crushing any thoughts of doing deals with Reform she declared “They are not like us. We are not like them”. It was the ethno-nationalism of Reform politicians denying that people of Asian and African origin can be English that most angered her. And on the day Reform threatened legal action over the allegations aired on this programme of illegal donations, which are being investigated by the police, the Tory leader said she didn’t want to live in a country run by people who threaten journalists.

She began her speech with a joke at Sir Keir Starmer’s expense, but then proceeded to repeat much of the meat of his attack on Reform from this time last year. She got delegates up on their feet for that, and there was eye-catching retail politics too, on scrapping inheritance tax on family homes, which has been criticised by Reform and Labour for helping a wealthy minority. Reporter: Gary Gibbon Producers: Robert Hamilton Editor: Donna-Marie Walton Camera: Leon Troth Share on Facebook Share Share on Twitter Tweet Share on WhatsApp Send Send with Facebook Messenger Send Share via email Email Load more share options Topics Kemi Badenoch , Politics , UK , UK Politics , conservatives