Kemi Badenoch has vowed that a Conservative government would crack down on radical Islamism following the recent terror attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
Opening her Conservative Party conference speech on Sunday, Badenoch addressed the attack directly, paying tribute to the victims — Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66 — and condemning the incident as “horrific and despicable.”
The Tory Party leader argued that extremism has been allowed to go unchecked, particularly during pro-Palestinian protests on the streets.
These demonstrations, she claimed, are not merely political expressions but “carnivals of hatred” directed at Jewish people and the state of Israel.
“We cannot import and tolerate values hostile to our own,” Badenoch said.
“We must now draw a line and say that in Britain you can think what you like and, within the bounds of the law you can say what you like, but you have no right to turn our streets into the theatre of intimidation and we will not let you do so anymore.”
It comes as 492 people were arrested during a pro-Palestine protest held in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, as protesters voiced their support for banned terror group Palestine Action. Among those arrested were elderly people, children of Holocaust survivors and people with disabilities.
It was announced today that police will be given greater powers to restrict protests after demonstrations in support of Palestine Action went ahead despite pleas to cancel following the Manchester synagogue attack.
Police forces will be allowed to consider the "cumulative impact" of repeated demonstrations in order to impose conditions on public processions and assemblies.
Badenoch has said she supports the government’s efforts to impose restrictions on repeat protests in light of the Manchester terror attack.
During her speech, Kemi Badenoch reiterated her commitment to withdrawing the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if the Conservative Party wins the next general election, as well as plans to reform immigration policy, to crack down on extremism and restore public trust.
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She claimed “well-meaning” treaties, such as the ECHR and the Modern Slavery Act, are now being used as “swords to attack democratic decisions and frustrate common sense.”
"The rights we enjoy did not come from the ECHR. They were there for hundreds of years in our common law. Parliament has legislated over centuries to reflect and protect our freedoms. Human rights in the United Kingdom did not start in 1998 with the Human Rights Act and they will not end with it,” she added.
Badenoch criticised previous Conservative governments, openly acknowledging past failures, while also taking aim at Labour and Reform, describing them as “two sides of the same coin” and claiming that neither offers “the leadership that Britain deserves.”
She said: "Our mistakes on the economy and on immigration lost us the trust and confidence of the public."
Addressing party members, she stressed the need for accountability and meaningful change: "The public won't listen to us again until we show them we have learnt from our mistakes and changed," she said, adding: "We've got to do this and we’ve got to do this properly."
Badenoch went on to accuse Labour of being unrealistic and quick to brand opponents as racist, while claiming Reform stokes outrage and offers simplistic solutions.
She argued that both parties thrive on grievance and identity politics, warning this approach would harm the country.
She declared: “no to division and no to identity politics.”
The Tory Party is languishing in the polls behind Labour and Reform UK after suffering their worst defeat in the General Election last year.
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Badenoch admitted the Conservatives "have a mountain to climb" but ended on a defiant note, declaring they are "up for the fight" as she concluded her speech.
“Only the Conservatives can bring this country back together. This is a battle we must win by combining secure borders with a shared culture, strong values and the confidence of a great nation, we can win the debate and win the next election,” she said.
"Conference, this is a party under new leadership and with a renewed purpose. We have listened, we have learned and we have changed.
"Only Conservatives will tell you the truth. Only Conservatives will take the difficult decisions, do the hard work. Only Conservatives have the courage, the honesty and the plan to strengthen our borders, restore our sovereignty and rebuild our prosperity.
"So, I say to you all as we start our conference, yes, we have a mountain to climb, but we have a song in our hearts, and we are up for the fight."
