The Conservative Party conference continues in Birmingham today, with defence taking centre stage on day three. Kemi Badenoch's party has pledged to invest £10 billion in a new "iron dome" style air defence system aimed at defending Britain and its overseas bases against future attacks.
The proposed "Britannia Shield" would provide a network of radar and command-and-control systems to detect incoming threats, along with interceptor missiles and counter-drone capabilities. The announcement comes as the Tories seek to sharpen political battle lines with Labour over defence.
Morning Speeches on the Main Stage
Shadow Housing Secretary Katie Lam will give her speech on the main stage at the ICC Birmingham at 9.45am. Ms Lam is widely seen as a rising star in the party, so her address is likely to be popular with members. Her conference had a rocky start when news broke she had met with a Reform UK mega-donor for lunch, fuelling fears she was plotting to defect - which her team deny.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott will take to the stage at 10.30am after Ms Lam. She will use her speech to vow to "kick political activism out of the classroom" by giving parents greater say over what their children are taught. Ms Trott has been a strong supporter of plans to ban phones from schools and kick kids off social media.
Afternoon Defence Sessions
Shadow Culture Secretary Rebecca Paul is up next on the main stage at 12pm for her speech to the party faithful. At 12.30pm, the Daily Express will host a conversation with Jacob Rees-Mogg and Robert Colvile in the Scherzo room, unpacking the question dominating the conference: "How does the Right unite to defeat Labour?"
This afternoon will be defence themed, with speeches from shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart, Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge, and Tom Tugendhat from 2pm onwards.
Evening Events and Fringe Sessions
At 19.30pm, the Daily Express Great British Pub Quiz will take place at Brindley Place, B1 2HP. The whole team will be there for what is said to be the best event of the conference, a pub quiz with a special guest. Wine will be available, and entry is first-come, first-served.
Fringe events include Tory MP James Cleverly, who wants to be the party's London mayoral candidate, speaking about the capital with IPPR and Onward at 11.30am (Onward Marquee, ICC). Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith, who pledged to cut one tax every budget in his keynote speech yesterday, is in conversation with the Growth Commission at 12.30pm (Hall 8a, ICC). Ms Lam is speaking about housing with the Onward think tank at 2pm (Onward, ICC). Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy is in conversation with Spectator editor Michael Gove at 2pm (Hall 8b, ICC). Mr Cartlidge will speak about defence with BAE Systems at 6pm (Hall 6, ICC).
