Chris Philp says the Tories “didn’t get everything right in government”

There’s lots of laughing in the conference hall as Kemi Badenoch takes relentless digs at Reform. Her bid to paint Nigel Farage’s party as a rabble of “drama queens” is certainly being lapped up by the Tory faithful. It shows why calls to “unite the right” with some sort of Tory-Reform deal are far from straightforward.  Politics is a tribal business and many of the activists here in Birmingham shun Farage with the same passion as they do Andy Burnham.

🧵 We have imposed conditions on a student march that is expected to take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 7 October.

This French student just wants new textbooks.

💔 Abigail Idan was only three years old when, on the morning of October 7, her life changed forever. That day, Hamas terrorists stormed her family’s home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Her parents, Roy and Smadar, were killed in front of her. 💔 Abigail’s father tried to save her and pick her up, but he was shot while trying to protect his daughter. Soon after, both of her parents were dead. Terrified, Abigail ran out of the house barefoot. She was covered in her father’s blood and desperately searched for somewhere safe to hide. She reached the home of their neighbors, the Brodutch family, hoping she would be protected there. But there was no safety there either. Abigail was kidnapped together with the mother of the family and three of her children and taken into Gaza. For the next 50 days, the three-year-old girl was held captive, moved between underground tunnels and apartments above ground. Meanwhile, her nine-year-old brother Michael and six-year-old sister Amalia remained in their family home. They hid inside a closet for about 14 hours. The children stayed completely silent while gunfire and screams could be heard outside. Throughout those long hours, they remained on the phone with a welfare emergency-line operator, who comforted them, reassured them, and stayed with them until rescue forces finally reached the house. Michael and Amalia were rescued. But their little sister was no longer there. Three-year-old Abigail had lost her parents and was now being held hostage. According to her aunt, Tal Idan, the conditions in captivity were extremely difficult. Abigail suffered from severe malnutrition. One pita had to be shared among five hostages. During all 50 days of captivity, Abigail was not able to bathe even once. After her release, her family discovered that her small body was covered in lice. «She was completely covered,»her aunt said. “It took us a long time and a lot of effort to get rid of them.” The hostages were constantly moved from one place to another, living every day in fear and uncertainty. On November 26, Abigail was finally released. A small, quiet girl returned, having experienced things no child should ever have to endure. She had lost both of her parents and struggled to understand where the life she once knew had gone. According to her family, Abigail became especially sensitive to loud noises and afraid of the dark. «She is not the same child she was before,»her aunt said. Today, Abigail, Michael, and Amalia live together with their aunt and uncle. They are growing up without their parents and slowly learning how to feel safe again. What they went through will always be part of their lives, but they are now surrounded by family members who are doing everything they can to give them care, warmth, and love. ❤️🙏