Kemi Badenoch vows to 'bring a new Conservative party' as she declares herself 'net-zero sceptic'

"I am a net zero sceptic," Badenoch said.

"I bang on endlessly about red tape, and I have said very publicly that we need to reduce the burdens that we put on farmers.

"Every day in Parliament, somebody has a new bright idea about something nice that could be done without thinking about who pays the consequence, and this is one of the things that is going to change under my leadership.

"I have said that we got a lot of things wrong previously. So, I'm not here to try and bring back the Conservative Party that the public just kicked out.

"I am here to bring a new Conservative Party, a renewed Conservative Party, one that sticks to its principles, that is authentic and that does right by the British people, including farmers."

Badenoch launched a scathing critique of Labour's economic policies, particularly targeting their GB Energy initiative.

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Asked if the previous Conservative administration shared some blame for taxes being raised, she said: "No, they didn't have to make the choices that they have made.

"This GB Energy boondoggle is an expensive mess that's not going to raise any money.

"They are choosing to create problems for later. And the other thing that they're doing that's really bad is that they are raising the costs on jobs.

"I have already spoken to employers, including some young farmers. Yesterday, I spoke to a 23-year-old farmer who said he's going to stop employing the 18 and 19-year-olds because of the National Insurance rise.

"So next year, they're going to be fewer employers, fewer jobs, the tax take will shrink, and then they'll try and come back for more.

"This is just the beginning of what Labour is doing. They are coming back for more soon."

Badenoch also revealed that she met with former Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson ahead of his speech to farmers at a rally in Westminster yesterday.

She reassured Clarkson, telling him: "I talked about tactics which the farming community and rural communities, as well as everybody else in society who supports this campaign, can take in order to help to get a U-turn from Labour."

The Conservative leader added: "Farmers feel, and I agree with them, that they've been getting a rough deal for a long time.

"A lot of people are just going to give up and stop farming.

"And then what happens to our food security? Let's remember what farmers do. This is public service. They may be privately owned, but without farmers, there is no food."