Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow

Sky News reported live from Birmingham ahead of Kemi Badenoch's Conservative conference speech, due at 11.15. She was expected to pitch the next election as a battle for the soul of the nation, with tax cuts, welfare savings and surprises, and to say the UK faces a battle of ideas, with Labour wanting to wind back the clock and treating income, pensions and savings as theirs to take. Sam Coates said Badenoch's personal popularity was relatively good but the party was still far from power and struggling in the polls, and noted a sparse conference hall, Reform UK stuttering or plateauing, and an expected partial scrapping of inheritance tax alongside fiscal responsibility and a golden rule on savings.

Polling was then presented from More in Common and YouGov. More in Common showed Badenoch's net approval had improved from minus 26 to zero, while Andy Burnham had plus 11, later plus 16, and Nigel Farage was minus 24. YouGov for Sky News and The Times had Labour up three points to 27%, Reform down three to 22%, the Conservatives up one and within two points of Reform, and the Lib Dems and Greens on 11% each. Luke Tryl said Badenoch's ratings had not yet lifted her party, the shadow cabinet had low name recognition, and the economy could be the Conservatives' best route, amid tactical voting and high engagement.

Kemi Badenoch told Beth Rigby she had not announced abolishing inheritance tax but said inheritance taxes were a problem, affecting farmers and the middle class, and that tax cuts had to be fiscally responsible and affordable. Rigby said Badenoch was more secure, with clearer dividing lines between a low-tax, smaller-state Conservative Party and a high-tax, big-state Labour Party. She said the Tories were targeting affluent former Conservative voters with policies including free childcare for those earning over £100,000 and reform of the £100,000 to £125,000 tax-free allowance cliff edge, while inheritance tax reform could be framed by Reform UK as a tax break for millionaires. The programme also noted Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp was due to speak.