Conservative Conference LIVE: Kemi Badenoch risks defection deluge over ECHR pledge as Lib Dems invite moderate Tories to switch

Moderate Tory MPs have been invited to defect to the Liberal Democrats after Kemi Badenoch unveiled her plan to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Conservative leader this morning told GB News that all MPs and Conservative candidates must support her plan to stand at the next General Election.

However, similarly to the Brexit referendum, the Tory Party is not harmoniously in favour of leaving the ECHR.

The Liberal Democrats have now sensed an opportunity to secure some defections from the Tories over the policy switch, following Jamie Greene's decision to cross over in April.

A Liberal Democrat source told GB News: "Many Conservatives will be looking on in despair. Kemi Badenoch’s decision to back Nigel Farage and join Vladimir Putin in abandoning the proud British creation of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects all of our rights and freedoms, will do nothing to stop the boats or fix our broken immigration system – problems caused by the last Conservative Government.

"To those One Nation Conservatives who don’t want to join the Farage circus, but instead want a party that stands up for a decent, caring Britain, our message to you is simple: you have a home with the Liberal Democrats. We will always defend our fundamental British freedoms and the rule of law."

FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…

ANALYSIS: Christopher Hope discusses Badenoch's purge of Tory's who refuse to back leaving ECHR

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Reform UK Chairman hits back at Kemi Badenoch, claiming the Tories copied Reform's immigration policy

Reform UK Chairman David Bull hit back at Kemi Badenoch, claiming the Tories copied Reform's immigration policy.

Speaking to GB News, Mr Bull said: "I think this is a desperate, large ditch attempt to have some sort of credibility and semblance of actually being able to do something.

"In fact, when I read that policy last night, my mouth dropped open because it's pretty much a copy and paste of the policy that we launched some months or so ago, Operation Restoring Justice.

"And they are doing exactly what we said. This is very much like a copy and paste. They've literally taken every single word."

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Kemi Badenoch argues 'leaving the ECHR is not a silver bullet'

Leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, has argued that "leaving the ECHR is not a silver bullet on its own".

She told GB News: "Indefinite Leave to Remain has become a fast track to British citizenship.

"If you're claiming benefits, you lose it. If you commit crimes, you lose it. But we need to make sure that the people who are in our country, or people who want to be British, want and love our values and are contributing. We can't afford to look after the whole world."

The Tory leader added: "Lots of people have been asking whether we should leave the ECHR. I said I will make sure we have a plan, not just say it and then work it out later. That's how we got into a mess last time. That's why Labour is in a mess.

"I've announced now that we will leave the ECHR. We've got 200 page plan that explains what and how. And then we've got a borders plan as well. That explains the other things we need to do.

"Leaving the ECHR is not a silver bullet on its own. It's not going to work. That's what that borders plan is."

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Nigel Farage will set the economy 'on fire', says Kemi Badenoch

Nigel Farage will set the economy 'on fire', Kemi Badenoch has told GB News, slamming the Reform leaders' policies.

Kemi Badenoch told GB News: "This is me saying that the Conservative Party is the only party that can deliver a stronger economy and stronger borders.

"Nigel Farage wants to spend loads and loads of money on welfare. You look at the plans he's talked about.

"Our economy will be on fire if he gets in. None of it makes sense.

"We are the only people who have credible and competent plans, and that is what I'm showing the public."

Nigel Farage responds to Kemi Badenoch Prime Minister claims

The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, has responded to Kemi Badenoch, who just told Camilla Tominey on GB News that she believes she can be the next Prime Minister of the UK.

Mr Farage wrote: "A new poll out today says 61% believe Reform is more likely to win the next election than the Conservatives."

Kemi Badenoch believes she can be the next Prime Minister despite sinking in the polls

Kemi Badenoch has told GB News that she believes she can be the next Prime Minister of the UK.

The comments come as it was revealed that only 19 per cent of the public would vote for the Conservative Party, according to a new JLP poll.

The Tory leader said: "Oppositions previously have been in opposition for 14, 13, 18 years. We're going to do this in four years. It's going to be very bumpy, but we will do it."

When asked by Camilla Tominey if she could be the next Prime Minister in the next election, Ms Badenoch replied: "Yes, the polling will change.

She added: "We have been spending the time making sure that we have robust policies and not just announcing things that are going to, you know, collapse the minute anyone asks a question. That's what happens with Reform."

Kemi Badenoch BANS Tory candidates from standing at next General Election unless they sign up to leaving the ECHR

Conservatives will be banned from standing as Tory candidates at the next General Election unless they sign up to leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, Kemi Badenoch.

When questioned by Camilla Tominey, Kemi Badenoch told GB News: "Well, I was very clear at the shadow cabinet where we agreed completely. It was unanimous that we cannot have a party where people do not abide by manifesto commitments.

"If you do not agree with leaving the ECHR, then you should not and cannot stand as a conservative candidate at the election.

Asked whether she will “kick people out” if they rebel on this issue, she said: "They can be in the party, but they cannot stand as MPs.

"We have lots of members who have lots of views, we don’t remove people for having slightly different views on policy.

"But if you want to be a Member of Parliament as a Conservative, then you need to understand that leaving the ECHR is a manifesto commitment."

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PICTURED: Chris Philp shows off Union Jack socks

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has arrived at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester wearing Union Jack socks.

GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope wrote on X: "Chris Philp is wearing his Union Jack socks on the first day of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester as he sets out his party’s plans to leave the ECHR"

WATCH: Kemi Badenoch announces 'ICE-style' deportation plan

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ANALYSIS: Tom Hardwood compares Tory and Reform UK deportations plans

GB News Deputy Political Editor Tom Hardwood offers analysis live from Manchester ahead of the Tory Party conference.

Speaking on the Conservatives' plans to deport 150,000 illegal migrants per year, Tom said: "It's a big number and crucially, it's bigger than the number that the Reform Party promised just a few weeks ago.

"The Reform Party said that they would deport 600,000 across the course of a five-year term in parliament, and the Conservatives 150,000 a year. If you times that by five, you get 700,000. So the conservatives here are promising a larger-scale deportation plan.

"But one of the interesting things, and I think this is going to be a point that we hear from this conference day after day after day from shadow ministers, is that not just the headline policy, but they've done the work underneath it.

"They want to point a point of comparison between their plans and Nigel Farage's announcements in that, yes, they might have taken longer to come up with this, but they say they've been undergoing a thorough policy review over the course of the last 12 months on the case of the ECHR."

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Veteran Tory who has held membership for 50 years defects to Reform on eve of conference

A veteran Tory has defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK ahead of the Conservative Party Conference, which kicks off in Manchester today.

Keith Prince, who has been a member of the party for nearly 50 years, announced his intention to leave the Tories on Saturday morning.

Mr Prince has represented Havering and Redbridge at the London Assembly since 2016, having previously served as the leader of Redbridge council between 2009 and 2014.

The 67-year-old’s defection marks a fresh blow for Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who has lost momentum in the polls to Nigel Farage.

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Kemi Badenoch reveals legal advice to seven-part migrant plan

Kemi Badenoch has commissioned Lord Wolfson KC to carefully examine her seven-part migration plan.

Lord Wolfson said: “In practice, the ECHR places significant restrictions on the ability of any government and Parliament to operate the UK’s immigration policies without running a risk of breaching the ECHR and being subjected to Rule 39 Orders (as was the case with the Rwanda scheme).

"ECHR membership places significant practical limits on the UK’s ability to maintain control of its borders, both for reasons of mandated process and substance (in the sense that even where claimants lose in the end, the process cost may frustrate effective immigration enforcement more generally).”

What did Kemi Badenoch and Chris Philp say about their BORDERS plan?

In the foreword to the report, Kemi Badenoch and Chris Philp said: "Small boat crossings have surged to record levels under the Labour government. The number of asylum claims is higher than ever.

"And there are now 32,000 people in asylum hotels, causing serious community tensions across the country.

"Meanwhile, the number of serious foreign criminals out on our streets grows by thousands every year, because legal obstacles continually stop them from being deported.

"The Labour Government has no answer to these problems – only gimmicks like their failed “one-in, one-out” deal. Since Keir Starmer signed his agreement with France, 11,000 illegal immigrants have arrived.

"Only a handful have been deported.In fact, Keir Starmer’s first act as Prime Minister was to cancel the only plan that would have had a deterrent effect and offered the opportunity to release pressure on asylum hotels – our deportation deal with Rwanda.

"If Britain is going to deal with this crisis it needs a proper plan and a party that is serious about fixing the issue.That’s why we have developed a real plan to tackle illegal immigration, set out in this document.

"Our approach starts with a detailed legal analysis of the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) on key policy areas, written by the leading barrister, Lord Wolfson KC.

"After careful consideration, we have concluded that the only way to protect our country’s borders is to leave the ECHR and repeal the Human Rights Act (HRA), in a way that is orderly and well thought-out.

"This is only the first step. But it is essential, so we can change the whole broken system and restore control of our country’s borders, while continuing to protect human rights in a way that is faithful to our democratic heritage.

"We are the only party to have properly analysed our ECHR exit and developed a comprehensive plan for restoring border control.

"The BORDERS plan builds on announcements we have made in this area to date, including pledging to introduce a strict numerical cap on immigration, extending the length of time to claim citizenship, and setting strict conditions on anyone with Indefinite Leave to Remain.

"A separate document setting out our plan to reduce legal immigration will be published later in the year"

REVEALED: Kemi Badenoch's seven-point BORDERS plan