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Kemi Badenoch delivered a speech to the Conservative Party conference in which she said there must be accountability when children die and promised to do better. She referred to lawless gangs in Middlesbrough and police officers killed by cars on the A66, and said criminals should face the full force of the law. She opposed Labour's early release scheme and said the next Conservative government would build 50,000 new prison places and introduce tougher minimum sentences for the worst crimes. She also spoke about backing public sector workers, removing politics from schools and putting academic standards first, and announced that the next Conservative government would legislate so no one pays inheritance tax on their family home, with couples able to leave an additional £1 million tax free and an ambition to abolish inheritance tax altogether when affordable. She also promised no stamp duty when buying a home and no mansion tax.

After the speech, the presenter said Badenoch had received a rapturous reception in the hall, spoke for just over an hour, and covered a range of issues. The presenter noted she had been critical of Labour and Reform UK and that her husband Hamish joined her on stage. A panel including former Conservative adviser Anita Boateng and Sophie discussed the speech. Anita Boateng described it as more measured and emotional, and said it included an attack on Reform UK over race and divisiveness. Sophie said the speech focused on traditional Conservative themes such as the economy, taxes, welfare and justice, and sought to distinguish the party from Reform UK. Alex Forsyth, reporting from Birmingham, said the speech was targeted at Conservative voters and the party, that the biggest cheer came when Badenoch said the Conservatives would not unite the right or team up with Reform UK, and that the inheritance tax announcement also received a huge cheer.

Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith was interviewed about the inheritance tax announcement and was asked why money would be used to help people with expensive homes. He said the speech was rooted in values and set out policies for young people, defence, home ownership and passing on homes, and said the party had set aside funding and would use 50p in every pound saved to pay the deficit. He said the party would take a fresh approach to welfare and reduce government costs, and that it was serious about cutting the deficit while trying to grow the economy. In further studio discussion, Sophie said people support inheritance tax changes in theory but that it is not always a high priority when explained in focus groups, and Anita Boateng said the speech showed the party focused on economic and aspiration arguments and had found a way to attack Reform UK.