2 w. ago Britain’s tallest Tory opens up for first time about being bullied and his ‘heroine’ Kemi Badenoch

James McAlpine, 22, who stands at 7ft 2in, became an unlikely star of last week’s Conservative Party Conference

Politics

2 w. ago BRIAN READE: 'For their arrogance and shameless lying, Tories deserve to be in history's dustbin'

The Conservative Party Conference was almost pornographic with its passion for Margaret Thatcher, says Brian Reade, but clinging to the memory of a dead leader while in total denial of its disastrous recent past, speaks volumes

Politics

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch's masterstroke? ANDREW PIERCE on how the Tories could make a BIG comeback

Kemi Badenoch's barnstorming speech at party conference may have just turned the tide for the Conservative Party.

Politics

2 w. ago I saw desperation at the Tory conference – but all traditional parties may be in this position soon | Andy Beckett

The feeling of crisis in Manchester also afflicts Labour and the Lib Dems. It leaves voters facing a dangerously unstable political orderMuch of democratic politics is about getting people’s attention. That’s a particular problem for struggling, less-than-compelling leaders. The further your party falls in the polls, the larger the temptation to launch dramatic, supposedly transformational policies. It’s like speaking more and more loudly to someone who has stopped listening.Thus this week’s Conservative conference in Manchester, with the party at historic lows in the polls, featured a frenzy of policy announcements, on once-successful Tory themes such as tax cuts, law and order, welfare and immigration, that were often made to half-empty rooms. Expanses of blue carpet had been installed in the huge, barn-like convention centre – as if to reassure delegates that the party still had an identity – yet much of the time they were eerily deserted. The Conservatives, famed and feared for ...

Politics

2 w. ago Most Britons back Kemi Badenoch's £9billion plan to abolish the much

The Conservative leader electrified her party conference this week by unveiling a dramatic £9billion plan to abolish the hated tax.

Economics

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch has put her stamp on the Tory leadership with big tax reveal – but will it be enough to save her?

After the Tories looked dead and buried in Manchester and Jenrick looked ready to take over as leader, Kemi Badenoch produced a speech which has breathed life into her party and leadership, says David Maddox

Politics

2 w. ago Absolutely massive world leaders to rival the 7'2" Never Ending Tory – and some bonus tiny ones

Wannabe Prime Minister James McAlpine has made waves at the Conservative party conference with his 7’2” frame. Now we look at some other political giants

Politics

2 w. ago 3 major areas Kemi Badenoch says she'll fix which Tories broke in first place

Kemi Badenoch used her Tory conference speech to claim the Conservatives are the ones who can fix the key issues facing Britain. She'll be furious to find out who's really to blame

Politics

2 w. ago With her stamp duty pledge, Kemi Badenoch has rediscovered the Tories’ political mojo

Editorial: In the Manchester conference hall, the Conservative leader showed herself at her combative best – but one good speech with a headline-grabbing policy won’t be enough on its own to close the gap with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK

Politics

2 w. ago Tory plan to abolish stamp duty ‘will benefit London and the wealthiest the most’ – UK politics live

The Social Market Foundation thinktank says council tax reform and a property-based tax would be more sustainable and fairerVoting in the Labour deputy leadership election opens today. Lucy Powell, the former Commons leader, is seen as the favourite and, as Jessica Elgot reports, Powell told supporters yesterday that, if she is elected, she will use the post to argue for changes in the way the government is operating. “We can’t sugarcoat the fact that things aren’t going well,” she said.Powell is no longer a government minister and, if she is elected deputy leader, she will do the job from the backbenches. In an interview on Newsnight last night, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary standing against Powell, said a Powell victory would be “destabilising” for the party. She said:[Electing Powell] risks destabilising the party we best achieve what we need to do together when we have those fierce conversations, including disagreements, behind closed doors.Members need to understa...

Politics

2 w. ago Kemi's support hits new heights! Moment 7ft 2in student and 'tallest Conservative in Britain' chats to Tory leader after she delivered conference speech

Photos show 22-year-old James McAlpine congratulating the Tory leader after she delivered a barnstorming speech to close the Conservative conference in Manchester.

Politics

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch pledges to scrap Stamp Duty as Tories desperately battle for attention

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used her party conference speech to brazenly claim that the Tories were the only ones to undo the damage they inflicted in power

Events

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch takes on Labour's trade union allies with call for a BAN on doctors' strikes and vow to save academy schools' freedoms

In her keynote speech to the Conservative conference in Manchester, Mrs Badenoch said NHS waiting lists were being kept high 'for far too long' by industrial action.

Events

2 w. ago POLL OF THE DAY: Do you back abolishing stamp duty, as the Conservatives are proposing?

Kemi Badenoch announced today in her leaders' speech to party conference that a Conservative government would abolish stamp duty, . saying: 'Stamp duty is a bad tax'.

Politics

2 w. ago KEVIN MAGUIRE: If Kemi Badenoch is the answer the Tories are asking the wrong question

Kemi Badenoch's first Conservative Party conference speech shows she "has the authority of a stressed supply teacher and credibility of a shady used car dealer", writes Kevin Maguire

Politics

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch electrifies Tories with vow to ABOLISH stamp duty with cash raised by slashing benefits in  barnstorming first conference speech

Closing the Conservative conference in Manchester, Kemi Badenoch dropped the bombshell as she gave an impassioned response to fears the party is finished.

Events

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch sets out £23bn cuts to Britain's welfare bill as she vows tougher rules on Motability vehicles and benefits for UK citizens only

In her keynote speech to the Conservative conference in Manchester, Mrs Badenoch said her party would restrict access to handouts.

Economics

2 w. ago Property industry welcomes Kemi Badenoch's "transformative" pledge to abolish stamp duty on homes

Tory leader tells Conservative conference "our housing market is not working as it should."

Society

2 w. ago Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch vows to abolish stamp duty in conference speech

LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest developments from the Conservative Party conference in Manchester as Kemi Badenoch deliver her leaders speech on how to boost the UK economy.

Politics

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch vows to abolish stamp duty as she delivers conference speech

The embattled Tory leader thanked party members for ‘standing by’ her amid dire poll ratings

Politics