Tory Party conference – live: Braverman ‘not afraid of racist label’ as Sunak ‘won’t be rushed’ on HS2

Suella Braverman delivered a highly-charged speech at the Tory Party conference as Rishi Sunak has refused to be pushed about the fate of HS2 in Manchester . Spouting anti-immigration rhetoric, the home secretary said the ‘racism smear’ would not stop her nor the prime minister in their mission to stop the boats and close asylum hotels. Mocking Sir Keir Starmer as her party’s ‘secret weapon’ to success, she added: ‘The choice between Conservatives and Labour is the choice between strong borders and no borders.’ Ms Braverman said the country ‘has been generous in taking in refugees’ but said the public has been clear in ‘poll after poll’ that immigration is ‘too high’. Elsewhere on HS2, the prime minister insisted he would not be ‘rushed’ into making a decision with billions of pounds at stake. ‘What people would expect from me is to take the time to go over it properly and make sure we make the right long-term decisions for the country,’ Mr Sunak told BBC Breakfast. The decision comes just weeks after The Independent first revealed secret talks between him and chancellor Jeremy Hunt to scrap the route. Key Points Suella Braverman: ‘Racism smear won’t work against me’ Gove boasts about ‘Conservative record’ as he claims ‘Brexit has been delivered’ Rishi Sunak denies giving up on HS2 PM says people don’t care ‘how much money I have’ Braverman introduced as ‘darling of conference’ at fringe event 21:15 , Matt Mathers Suella Braverman has been introduced as the ‘darling of the conference’ at a fringe event in Manchester. ‘She is utterly thrilled at chants of ‘Braverman’ from some of the crowd’ at the Blue Collar Conservatism reception, the Guardian’s Aubrey Allegretti reports. Earlier the home secretary delivered a highly inflammatory speech at the conference, comparing migrants to a ‘hurricane’. Suella Braverman introduced as ‘the darling of the conference’ at the Blue Collar Conservatism reception. She is utterly thrilled at chants of ‘Braverman’ from some of the crowd. – Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) October 3, 2023 Manchester Airport Group says it would be ‘wrong’ for Sunak to ditch HS2 20:52 , Matt Mathers The north of England needs better connectivity to ‘drive its economy forward,’ Manchester Airport Group (MAG) has said as it urged Rishi Sunak not to scrap the high speed northern leg of HS2. Ken O’Toole, MAG CEO, said it would be ‘wrong’ for the PM to ditch the plans after more than a ‘decade’ of the government telling the country that ‘rebalancing the economy is one of its top priorities. ‘It sold the country its vision for a new industrial revolution in the north, with high-value industries competing on the global stage and creating jobs and prosperity for everyone who lives and works there. ‘We call on government to work with business and political leaders to ensure that vision is delivered. ‘If that connected transport network is not delivered, then more than a decade of laying the foundations for the North’s future will have been wasted, and people and businesses of the region would understandably feel let down and misled.’ File photo: A HS2 bridge in Staffordshire Burnham: ‘Disgrace’ that high speed northern leg of HS2 will be scrapped 20:20 , Matt Mathers Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has said it is a ‘disgrace’ that the government will scrap the high speed northern leg of HS2. Sky News reported this evening that the line would still go ahead between London Euston and Manchester but switch to ‘normal tracks’ after Birmingham. Responding to the news on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Burnham said: ‘So, in other words, HS2 won’t go to Manchester and people in the North will be treated as second-class citizens – again? What a disgrace.’ So, in other words, HS2 won’t go to Manchester and people in the North will be treated as second-class citizens – again? What a disgrace. https://t.co/y2LzwLGiUa – Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) October 3, 2023 Tories in battle for ‘heart of party’ – former advisor 19:52 , Matt Mathers The Tories are embroiled in a battle for the ‘heart of the party’, a former government advisor has said. James Starkie, a former Home Office advisor, was speaking after Suella Braverman’s speech at the Tory conference in Manchester. ‘It’s a lot about where does the party go?’ he said of the Conservative gathering, in an appearance on Sky News. Watch more of his comments below: ICYMI: Sunak poised to make ‘incredible gaffe’ by axing HS2 in north but saving London link 19:35 , Matt Mathers Rishi Sunak has been warned he is about to make an ‘incredible political gaffe’ by scrapping HS2 ‘s northern leg but save the link into London Euston . The PM is expected to finally announce that the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the high-speed rail project will be ditched on Wednesday – weeks after The Independent revealed he wanted to axe it . Adam Forrest and Jon Stone report: Sunak poised to make ‘incredible gaffe’ by axing HS2 in north Braverman: Let ‘silly’ Tory heckler back into conference 19:16 , Matt Mathers Suella Braverman has said the London Tory who heckled her speech was ‘silly’ but should be ‘forgiven’ and let back into conference. Andrew Boff, the leader of the Conservatives on the London Assembly, accused Braverman of ‘trash’ talking during a speech in which she spoke and trans rights. ‘Around an hour after the incident she posted on social media: ‘Andrew Boff’s heckles were silly but I think he should be forgiven and let back into conference’. Andrew Boff’s heckles were silly but I think he should be forgiven and let back into conference – Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) October 3, 2023 ICYMI: 19:00 , Matt Mathers Nigel Farage has rejected suggestions he could rejoin the Conservative Party. Rishi Sunak left the door open to a possible return after describing the Tories as a ‘very broad church’ when asked about Mr Farage’s membership prospects. Mr Sunak added to GB News : ‘I welcome lots of people who want to subscribe to our ideals, to our values.’ Richard Wheeler reports: Trans women to be banned from female NHS wards, as Steve Barclay insists ‘Tories know what a woman is’ 18:40 , Matt Mathers Transgender women are to be banned from female NHS wards, as health secretary Steve Barclay insisted that the Tories ‘know what a woman is’. The health secretary promised in his conference speech to restore ‘ common sense ‘ to the health service and recognise ‘the importance of biological sex in healthcare’. Archie Mitchell reports: Watch: Tory kicked out of conference says Braverman making party look ‘homophobic’ 18:20 , Matt Mathers Tory ejected from conference after slamming Braverman’s ‘trash’ comments on transgender rights 17:58 , Matt Mathers A senior London Tory has been ejected from Suella Braverman’s conference speech after speaking out of turn during a section about transgender rights, Jon Stone reports. Andrew Boff, the leader of the Conservatives on the London Assembly, said there was “no such thing as gender ideology” while the Home Secretary criticised so-called “woke” policies she said were being introduced by institutions. The Tory chief was immediately escorted out of the speech by security. One BBC reporter who was stood next to the politician during the speech said: “In quite a soft tone he said ‘there’s no such thing as gender ideology’ as Braverman was listing things she thought ‘woke’ institutions were adopting. Security immediately swarmed him and escorted him out.” While being led out of the conference hall Mr Boff, who is also the overall chair of the London Assembly which holds Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to account, said: “My name is Andrew Boff, I am a member of the London Assembly. I am a loyal Tory for 50 years. “All this trash about gender ideology is making our Conservative Party look transphobic and homophobic.” Britain Conservatives (AFP or licensors) Tory mayor throws down HS2 gauntlet to Sunak HS2 – ‘I have top firms with cash to bail it out’ 17:50 , Matt Mathers As we reported earlier, West Midlands mayor Andy Street has been voicing his opposition to the government scrapping the northern leg of HS2. The former John Lewis boss also said today that he has ‘top firms’ who are willing to stump up cash to bail out the project. Adam Forrest and Archie Mitchell have more details: Tory mayor tells Sunak – ‘I have top firms with cash to bail HS2 out’ Watch: Surprising that Human Rights Act wasn’t called ‘Criminal Rights Act’, says Suella Braverman 17:30 , Matt Mathers x Andy Street: Scrapping HS2 would be an ‘incredible political gaffe’ 17:10 , Matt Mathers Andy Street, the independent-minded Conservative mayor for the West Midlands, has warned that Rishi Sunak looks set to gift Labour a winning political attack line over HS2, Jon Stone reports. Speaking about the future of the project at a Tory conference fringe event in Manchester he said: “I think they are about to make an incredible political gaffe. “Every Labour MP in the North is lining up tomorrow to say … the Tories have come to Manchester to shaft the North. “Is that really what we want to offer to our opponents or is there not a better answer?” And one northern transport source told The Independent: “They clearly haven’t thought about the politics of giving London a stay of execution but cutting Manchester. I can think of a half a dozen Tory MPs who might as well quit now.” File photo: West Midlands mayor Andy Street (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Archive) 16:55 , Matt Mathers A Conservative member of the London Assembly was escorted out of the Tory party conference after he appeared to heckle Suella Braverman ‘s speech on Tuesday, 3 October, Holly Patrick reports. Andrew Boff was led away by police after declaring “there’s no such thing as gender ideology” while the home secretary was speaking about “those who fail to conform” are “chased out of their jobs for saying that a man can’t be a woman” when “the left gets the upper hand.” Ms Braverman continued with her speech after Mr Boff was led away. Watch the clip by following the link below: Chalk: Britain will send prisoners overseas 16:40 , Matt Mathers Prisoners could be sent overseas to avoid Britain’s prisons reaching capacity, the justice secretary has announced. Archie Mitchell reports: Alex Chalk said he would pass new laws to allow the UK to rent prison space abroad. The announcement, in his speech to Tory conference, came just days after figures uncovered by The Independent showed overcrowding in prisons is nearing breaking point. Mr Chalk said the changes will help the government ‘lock up the most dangerous offenders for longer where that is necessary to protect the public’. ‘This government is doing more than any since the Victorian era to expand prison capacity,’ he said. The plans follow similar measures introduced in European countries including Norway and Belgium. Norway rented prison cells from the Netherlands under a ‘Norgerhaven’ agreement which saw 650 prisoners sent to the country between 2015 and 2018. And Belgium sent as many as 650 prisoners to the Netherlands between 2010 and 2016 under a similar scheme. Read the full report here: Tories ‘stand with the many’ against ‘privileged woke minority’- Home sec 16:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Suella Braverman said her party stands with the ‘many’ against the ‘privileged woke minority’. She said: ‘The British people will get to decide if they want to curb woke with Rishi Sunak or let it run riot with Kier take-the-knee Starmer.’ She said the Conservative Party is a ‘kind of trade union’ saying: ‘We are the trade union of the British people.’ Ending her speech she said: ‘We stand with the many, the law-abiding, hard-working common-sense majority, against the few, the privileged woke minority with their luxury beliefs who wield influence out of proportion to their numbers. ‘Our message to the people is clear: we are raising our game, we are fighting for a Britain that puts you first, we are on your side. Thank you.’ Heckler escorted out of Suella Braverman’s speech at Tory party conference 16:09 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The man escorted out of Suella Braverman’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference is London Assembly member Andrew Boff. Speaking to reporters as he was led from the conference centre, he hit out at ‘trash’ the Home Secetary was saying about ‘gender ideology’. ‘It is making our Conservative Party look transphobic and homophobic. ‘Our party has a proud record of standing up for LGBT+ rights and she is destroying it.’ He said he had been a member of the party for over 50 years and was a ‘proud member’. Man escorted out of Braverman’s speech at Tory Party conference 15:54 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A man has been escorted out of Suella Braverman’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference. Braverman surprised Human Rights Act is not called ‘Criminal Rights Act’ 15:47 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Suella Braverman said she was surprised the Human Rights Act was not called the ‘Criminal Rights Act’. Addressing the main stage at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester said: ‘(The public) know another thing, that the future could bring millions more migrants to these shores, uncontrolled and unmanageable unless the Government they elect next year acts decisively to stop that happening.’ Talking about ‘illegal immigration’, she said: ‘Our country has become enmeshed in a dense net of international rules that were designed for another era. And it is Labour that turbocharged their impact by passing the misnamed Human Rights Act. ‘I’m surprised they didn’t call it the ‘Criminal Rights Act’.’ (Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire) Braverman says ‘Islamist extremism’ the main threat to the British public 15:41 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Suella Braverman said the government has made sure Prevent focuses on what she named the ‘main security threat’ to the British public: ‘Islamist extremism’. ‘Racism smear won’t work against me,’ Braverman says 15:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The ‘racist smear’ will not work against herself nor the prime minister, Suella Braverman declared at the conference. ‘The choice between Conservatives and Labour is the choice between strong borders and no borders,’ the home secretary added. Government to start ‘closing down asylum hotels’- Home secretary 15:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A round of appluase erupted as the home secretary told the conference the party will ‘soon start closing down asylum hotels’. She added: ‘We will do whatever is in our will to stop the boats and deter bogus asylum seekers.’ (Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire) 15:29 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ms Braverman said politicians in previous years did not handle immigration efficiently. She said: ‘We were too slow to recognise the scale of the problem, too unwilling to accept that our legal framework needed updating.’ 15:27 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain ‘This country has been generous in taking in refugees,’ Suella Braverman told the conference. But said the British people have been clear in ‘poll after poll’ that immigration is ‘too high’. 15:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Suella Braverman ironically says the Tory party are ‘raising our game’ in Manchester despite the controversial scrapping of the HS2 link to the north. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire) Braverman takes stage 15:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Home secretary Suella Braverman has now taken the stage before the conference. Stay tuned for live updates. Rees-Mogg says Tories could ‘cope’ with Farage in the party 15:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said that he would welcome Nigel Farage