Overview

• Video from Manchester shows Kemi Badenoch singing Sweet Caroline with Young Conservatives, and she said her voice was hoarse from a packed event.
• Badenoch rejected claims the gathering was a washout, saying the conference felt owned by members rather than corporate attendees.
• Coverage noted a slimmed-down event with sparse halls, including reports that Mel Stride’s keynote did not fill a 1,000-seat venue.
• She pointed to headline policies that she says thrilled members, including leaving the European Convention on Human Rights and cutting £47 billion in public spending.
• Reform UK announced further Conservative councillor defections as Robert Jenrick was expected to propose abolishing the Sentencing Council and target what he calls activist judges.