𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Tory Party conference continues today, and there is a heavy focus on defence for day three of the gathering in Birmingham. Kemi Badenoch’s party has pledged to invest £10 billion in creating a new “iron dome” style air defence system aimed at defending Britain and its overseas bases in the event of future attacks.

The so-called “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. It comes as the Tories have sought to sharpen political battle lines with Labour over defence.

Here, the Express lists the key events:

Shadow Housing Secretary Katie Lam will give her speech on the main stage at the ICC Birmingham.

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 he team deny.

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott will take to the stage 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.

The Shadow Culture Secretary is up next on the main stage for her speech to the party faithful.

12.30pm – How does the Right unite to defeat Labour?

Join the Daily Express in conversation with Jacob Rees-Mogg and Robert Colvile, as we unpack the question dominating the conference. You can find us in the Scherzo room.

2pm onwards – Alex Burghart, James Cartlidge and Tom Tugendhat

This afternoon will be defence themed with speeches from shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart, Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge and Tom Tugendhat.

19.30pm – The Daily Express Great British Pub Quiz

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 and good, first-come, first-served. The quiz will be at Brindley Place, B1 2HP.

Tory MP James Cleverly, who wants to be the party’s London mayoral candidate, will speak about the capital with IPPR and Onward at 11.30 (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).