There is a buzz at Conservative Party conference, says Badenoch

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has insisted attendees at her party conference can feel "the buzz" as she rejected suggestions that some empty seats for events were a sign that her leadership is failing to energise party activists.

The main hall has not been full for speeches by members of the shadow cabinet but Badenoch said her own speech had been "standing room only".

She said that many of the popular events took place not in the main hall but at fringe events, where people were having to queue to get in.

The Conservative leader also argued that because the party was no longer in government there were fewer "people turning up wanting government favours".

"They've gone to Labour conference," she said.

"We used to be teeming with corporate lobbyists, now we are teeming with party members."

The conference - a four-day event attended by party members - is Badenoch's first as Conservative leader, having been elected nearly 12 months ago.

She took on the leadership after the party suffered a heavy defeat in the 2024 general election.

So far, the party has failed to improve on its poor poll ratings and performed badly at the local elections earlier this year.

Speaking to the BBC, Badenoch said the party had experienced a "tough defeat at the last election" but added: "We can get through it, we will come through it."

"There are sunlit uplands ahead."

She said party members were "thrilled" at the polices announced in the past week including promises to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, repeal the Climate Change Act and cut £47bn from public spending.

She said the previous evening she had been with "really excited" young Conservatives singing Sweet Caroline in a bar, and added that the party was having a "really good conference".

"This is one of the first conferences I've been to where it has really felt like the members owned it, and I'm really proud of that."

During the conference, Badenoch has sought to present herself as a contrast to Reform, arguing that she is spending more time thinking through policies.

However, it has led to criticism from some Conservatives that the leadership has been too slow at announcing policies and has created a vacuum which has been filled by Reform UK.

Nigel Farage's party has been using the third day of the conference to announce a string of councillor defections to Reform UK.

Badenoch has been defending her approach, telling the BBC that while there may be a "small political price" to pay her approach would pay off in the long run.