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      Badenoch to unveil ‘golden rule’ for economy as she attempts to win back Tory credibility destroyed by Truss

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      Kemi Badenoch is set to announce a “golden rule” for the economy in her conference speech on Wednesday as she desperately tries to restore the Conservative Party’s credibility on the nation’s finances.With millions of Britons still reeling from the impact of Liz Truss’ disastrous mini-Budget, the Tory leader will attempt to restore voters’ trust in the party’s handling of the economy by pledging that half of all money saved from cuts must be put towards shrinking the deficit.The other half would go on spending or cutting taxes to boost the economy, under the move that she will pledge to introduce if the Tories are re-elected to government.The announcement in her keynote speech for the Tory conference in Manchester on Wednesday comes as shadow cabinet members admit that the party is “struggling to even get a hearing with the public”.With the party consistently polling in the mid teens with around half the support of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, the conference has been noticeable for how few have attended and the low level of interest in policy announcements.Mrs Badenoch reflected on her party’s difficult journey (Peter Byrne/PA) More

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      British steel facing ‘existential threat’ after EU hikes tariffs

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      The British steel industry has been plunged into crisis after the European Union announced plans to slap 50 per cent tariffs on UK imports. In what is a major blow to Sir Keir Starmer’s mission to reset relations with the bloc after Brexit, the European Commission revealed plans to double the current level of 25 per cent, while reducing tariff-free import volumes to 18.3 million tonnes a year – a 47 per cent reduction.The director general of UK Steel said the fresh tariffs would be “devastating” to the industry, which currently exports 78 per cent of its steel to the EU. The increase comes after the industry is still dealing with the impact of 25 per cent tariffs on imports to the US, imposed by Donald Trump.The prime minister has said he is in discussions with both the US and EU about the tariffs, saying the government is strongly supportive of the steel industry. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen More

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      Gender critical activists accused of ‘hateful’ remarks after suggesting trans rights supporters have ‘broken brains’

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      Gender critical campaigners have been accused of making “hateful” and “extremist” remarks at an event at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester after suggesting those who support trans rights have “broken brains” and that so-called gender ideology is “an evil”. Speaking on a panel event on the fringes of the conference, titled ‘After the Supreme Court Ruling: what next for sex-based rights’, Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at Sex Matters, referred to trans women as “a man in a dress”. Meanwhile, Kate Barker, CEO of the LGB Alliance, claimed the medical establishment has been captured by “fanciful and malign ideology that tells gay people that they can be cured by making grotesque and permanent changes to their body”. Speakers on a panel titled ‘After the Supreme Court Ruling: what next for sex-based rights?’ More

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      Attacks on migrants will not return the Tories to power, Lord Heseltine warns Badenoch

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      Tory grandee Lord Heseltine has warned Kemi Badenoch that the party’s attacks on migrants are “not the Conservative way to rebuild power”.In a damning attack on her leadership, the former deputy prime minister has used a speech at the conference in Manchester to blast the rhetoric of the current leadership, warning that the inflammatory language “encourages the worst sort of prejudice”.In his speech at a European Movement event at the Conservative Party conference, Lord Heseltine suggested taking such a hard right approach to politics is unconservative.His comments comes amid a growing row over comments made by shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who said he had not seen “another white face” while filming a video in the Handsworth area of Birmingham. He later doubled down on his remarks, saying the UK’s second city “did look like a slum”.Lord Heseltine warned that instead of aping Reform UK, the Tories “must make clear that we will never have any part in the populist extremism of Nigel Farage”.Lord Michael Heseltine has been a strong critic of the Tories’ lurch to the right in recent years More

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      Jenrick doubles down on ‘I didn’t see any white faces’ attack on Birmingham and insists it ‘did look like a slum’

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      Robert Jenrick has doubled down on his comment about not seeing “another white face” while visiting the Handsworth area of Birmingham, reiterating that it “did look like a slum”.The shadow justice secretary defended his remarks, insisting that he “won’t shy away” from issues of integration and his comments about white faces were just an “observation”.Speaking during a live recording of The Telegraph’s Daily T podcast at the Conservative Party conference, Mr Jenrick said there are “pockets” of towns and cities that are largely segregated and that “we should not back down” from talking about them, adding that there was not a “mix of people on the streets” when he visited.Robert Jenrick has faced criticism for his remarks about Handsworth in Birmingham More

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      Jenrick brandishes judge’s wig at Tory conference as he attacks judiciary for ‘fighting to keep illegal migrants in the UK’

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      Robert Jenrick has launched an unprecedented assault on Britain’s judiciary, vowing to scrap the independent sentencing council and sack dozens of judges he accused of “open borders activism”. The shadow justice secretary claimed to have uncovered a slew of judges “with links to open borders charities” who are broadcasting left-wing views on social media. “They dishonour generations of independent jurists who came before them, and they undermine the people’s trust in the law itself,” he said, adding that “judges who blur the line between adjudication and activism can have no place in our justice system”. The shadow justice secretary claimed to have uncovered a slew of judges ‘with links to open borders charities’ More

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      Kemi Badenoch sings ‘Sweet Caroline’ in pub singalong at Tory party conference

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      Kemi Badenoch can be seen singing along to Sweet Caroline with Conservative supporters during the party’s annual conference in Manchester.The Tory leader was seen waving a Union Jack flag and joining younger members in the pub after the day’s events on Monday (6 October).Appearing on BBC Breakfast the next morning, she admitted her voice was hoarse from the late-night singing, but praised the Young Conservatives as “a really fun bunch”. “I shouldn’t have been doing that so late at night. But the Young Conservatives are a really fun bunch, and they’re really excited,” she said. More

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      Voices: ‘Undemocratic and unlawful’: Readers react to police crackdown on repeat protests

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      The government’s decision to expand police powers to crack down on repeated protests has sparked a strong reaction from Independent readers.Home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the move just hours after hundreds were arrested at a Palestine Action demonstration in London. She had previously called on protest organisers to pause the demonstrations as a mark of respect for the Jewish community following the terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester, during which two people were killed.But her warnings were ignored – and she has now announced plans to change the law to give the police additional powers to restrict repeated protests which cause communities to feel “scared to leave their homes”.It comes as Sir Keir described the pro-Palestine university protests planned for Tuesday as “un-British,” saying they demonstrate a lack of respect for others.Many readers criticised the crackdown as an attack on civil liberties, arguing that peaceful demonstrations are being unfairly suppressed and that the home secretary is conflating opposition to Israel with antisemitism. Commenters highlighted that most protesters are targeting the actions of the Israeli state, not Jewish communities, and stressed that free speech and the right to protest are fundamental in a democracy.Some acknowledged that certain protests may be disruptive or linked to criminal activity, but the overwhelming sentiment was that the state’s response has been disproportionate.Here’s what you had to say:Peaceful protest is a fundamental rightI totally oppose the police or government being given the right to ban demonstrations. Such powers would inevitably be abused and have no place in a democratic society. Every time a politician says they support the right to protest, they immediately then propose restrictions that could prevent it. The Jewish community are not to blame for the Israeli Government’s offensive in Gaza and have the right to feel safe in their own country. What Hamas did on 7 October 2023 was grotesque, but so has much of the Israeli Government’s response. Banning protest in this country and downplaying the slaughter in Gaza, as until recently the Government has, are both immoral and wrong.ex post officeDesignated protest zonesAs has been said by a number of people, we need designated protest zones. This could be a spot outside of town properly set up with stages for speakers, facilities, security, an area for marching, etc. If you want to protest something, you can book the protest zone; everything will be set up for when you arrive. saghiaHysteria is getting out of handIf anyone wants to protest over Gaza, there are regular events they can attend. The right to protest isn’t being suppressed. If Palestine Action has been banned, the home office probably has evidence that it is a threat to security in some way. There are legal cases currently in the pipeline, which is presumably why that evidence can’t be released yet, but if and when it can be made public, it should be. The hysteria surrounding this group is getting out of hand.Tanaquil2People have a right to protestCommunities in Britain, including the Jewish community, do not support genocide. Until things change, people have a right to protest. It was the government that banned a peaceful organisation under law, forcing police to make these unnecessary arrests. It’s not the police’s job to arrest people peacefully protesting. KateTime to stand upAll very well to say that the protests should be stopped due to the tragic killings of Jews. But if there are no protests now as a deal is at last in sight, we will soon see Gaza being sliced up as real estate as Trump wants, or the Palestinian people yet again being sidelined and made stateless.Sometimes the most difficult challenges are the ones we should grasp; otherwise, this conflict will go on for another 80 years and blood will be shed every few years in pointless military actions.Adrian FoxPeaceful protest over-policedThe overwhelmingly peaceful, seated London protest could have been policed by half a dozen officers.The other 500 were there for the sole purpose of arresting decent people with strongly held views. This is what happens when you start to delegitimise freedom of assembly and peaceful protest.SteveHillMy heart has ached every dayFor two years my heart has ached every day with the latest news from Gaza, as with most normal people. It’s just heartbreaking! I do not understand when the demonstrators want peace for all parties, for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and for those responsible to be held accountable for the war crimes they have committed. We just want peace and dignity for the Palestinians. What is so wrong with wanting justice?Maggie20Conflating protest and antisemitismDealing with pro-Palestine protests is separate from the issue of rising antisemitism, but the government’s attempt to conflate the two is troubling.Rising antisemitism is an issue, but we need to be clear-eyed about the current causes – a major one of which is Netanyahu. He commits antisemitic acts every day. By conflating antisemitism and Israel, he reduces some complaints about Israel’s actions and makes life easier for himself. DanFrostThe government has boxed itself in on this protest issue. The more they crack down, the less support they will have. Labour voters are traditionally centre and left-wing and do not like authoritarianism or being ordered what to do. So Labour will not gain support; they will lose it through this action.RichardtheLionheartDraconian legislationSo the home secretary wants to put through draconian legislation that would ban repeated protests. Under such legislation, the Chartists’ protests of the 19th century, which won the franchise for working people, and the Suffrage protests that gained women the vote – and put this home secretary into parliament – would have been banned.Clobber2Massive overreachThe government wanting to enact legislation to further restrict our rights to protest is a massive overreach. As has been stated many times, this power will be abused in the future to suppress further free speech. The continuing protest against the banning of Palestine Action can be brought to an end by providing evidence that it was necessary to prevent terrorist activity.ChuckiethebraveRight to call out genocideAntisemitism has no place in this country, but surely it is right for people to call out the genocide that Israel is pursuing in Gaza. The word genocide is not being used carelessly but echoes the opinion of respected UN institutions. To change the law to ban protests is worrying. Why is this government so reluctant to call out and take action to stop the actions of Israel?SpeculatorUndemocraticExpanding police powers to stop peaceful protest is wholly undemocratic, unlawful, and I would wager, with comfortable confidence, that it will kick-start a far greater public backlash on the streets than anticipated. No one wants to live in a police state; of that I am pretty confident.Moo100Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.Want to share your views? Simply register your details below. Once registered, you can comment on the day’s top stories for a chance to be featured. Alternatively, click ‘log in’ or ‘register’ in the top right corner to sign in or sign up.Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment click here. More