Shadow ministers have unveiled a series of far-reaching and often radical new policies at the Conservative party’s annual conference in Manchester, despite leader Kemi Badenoch’s earlier warning that detailed policies would not be expected until 2027.
Among the proposals is the creation of a “British Ice” agency, modelled on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to tackle illegal immigration. The party also plans to expand stop-and-search powers, allowing police to search individuals without reasonable suspicion in areas with high crime rates.
Other policies include scrapping the BBC licence fee, introducing a cap on welfare payments, and reducing the number of university students to boost vocational training. The announcements come as the party languishes at 17% in the polls, struggling to gain traction with voters.
A Tory spokesperson had previously stated in January, “We’re not creating policies for 2028 in 2025,” but this week’s conference has marked a shift in strategy.
