Kemi Badenoch has denied claims that Tory conference is “half empty”. The Conservative leader said the gathering in Manchester was “one of the first conferences I’ve been to where it’s really felt like the members owned it”, adding that she was “proud”.
Mrs Badenoch made the comments after it was put to her on BBC Breakfast that “the hall seems half empty, there doesn’t seem to be much atmosphere and you’re simply not filling the seats the way you used to”. The Tory leader replied: “That’s simply not true.
She went on: “Show the pictures of my speech, it was standing room only, we’ve had this many times at conference.
“What I do know is that we have had our fringes very full, people have been complaining to me about having to queue to get in.
“You can hear my voice is hoarse, I was at an absolutely packed Young Conservatives event where we were singing Sweet Caroline.
“I probably shouldn’t have been doing that but we’re having a great time and I’m really pleased with the number of people that have come to our conference.
“A lot of the people who came just because we were in government, the corporate lobbyists, yes they’re not there but our members are here.
“This is one of the first conferences I’ve been to where it’s really felt like the members owned it and I’m proud of that.”