The Conservative Party Conference: Updates, cheers, moans and pithy comments (From Worcester News)

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Back tomorrow. Yes, it does go on for another day.

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Reaction to Grayling speech: Tory activists have welcomed government plans to protect frightened householders who attack burglars.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed that ministers would change the law to offer beefed-up support to homeowners who overreact when raiders target their properties.

In a wide-ranging speech to the Tory party conference, he admitted that the party's Liberal Democrat coalition colleagues are hampering Conservative hopes to revamp human rights laws, but pledged to offer voters an alternative at the next general election.

Announcing new laws allowing people to defend their homes, Mr Grayling said householders would not be prosecuted unless their response is "grossly disproportionate".

He told the Birmingham conference: "None of us really knows how frightening it would be if we were confronted by a burglar in the middle of the night, or how terrified we'd feel if we thought our family was in danger.

"You might well hit out in the heat of the moment, without thinking of anything but protecting your loved ones. And right now you're still not sure the law is on your side.

"I think householders acting instinctively and honestly in self-defence are victims not criminals. They should be treated that way.

"That's why we are going to deal with this issue once and for all."

4:55pm

More from Theresa May: The election of Labour police and crime commissioners would mean "Lord Prescott and the has-beens, coming soon to a venue near you", Theresa May has said.

The number of Opposition stalwarts standing for election was mocked by the Home Secretary as she hailed the Conservative Party's own candidates for the controversial posts.

The new commissioners, who will have the power to hire and fire chief constables and set force budgets, will be elected in 41 force areas across England and Wales on November 15.

Mrs May said that while the Tories were putting forward candidates from a range of backgrounds, including the military and business, Labour were standing candidates whose time in politics had been and gone.

But her dig at the opposition seemed to contradict her own party's claims that the new commissioners would not bring a political bias to the office.

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... and their owner is. Grrrr.

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These heels are on the throats of all those baddies out there.

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Theresa May speech round-up: Victims of crime will be given a say as to how offenders are punished, Home Secretary Theresa May said today.

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham she said it was time victims were given a greater voice in the criminal justice process.

New legislation will be needed, she said, with victims of anti-social behaviour given the power to demand compensation or order yobs to carry out repairs and clean up parks.

She told Tory members the new policy would be led by Police and Crime Commissioners, who are due to be elected next month.

Mrs May said: "I can announce today an important new duty on Police and Crime Commissioners to make sure that victims have a greater say in the punishment of people responsible for anti-social behaviour.

"We will change the law so when a criminal receives an out-of-court community punishment, the victim will be given the power to choose the form it takes. They'll be given a list of options.

"They might want something restorative or punitive. They might want it to be carried out nearby or as far away as possible. But what matters is that the punishment will be chosen by the victim.

"For too long, victims of crime have had no voice but this Government is giving victims back their voice."

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"Prime minister, prime minister! Something dreadful's happened. It's Boris..."

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Dave's off for a balti: David Cameron hopes wife Samantha will take him out for a curry tonight to celebrate his 46th birthday, he said this morning.

The Prime Minister faces a challenging day at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham following Boris Johnson's keynote speech.

Asked if that would spoil his day, Mr Cameron told Sky News: "No, not at all. I'm delighted that Boris is here on my birthday, it might give me a bit of time to myself because Boris has got so much to say and so much to offer the Conservative Party."

Once conference closes for the day Mr Cameron is hoping to sample the delights of the renowned Birmingham 'balti triangle' for a celebratory meal with his wife.

"I'm looking forward to Samantha coming back to Birmingham and I'm hoping she's going to take me out for a balti," he told BBC Breakfast.

1:24pm

Do these new specs make me look brainy? Education Secretary Michael Gove addresses the Conservative Conference.

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Gove's speech round-up: Michael Gove has launched an attack on the teaching unions as he condemned the "bigotry" of low expectations in the education system.

The two largest teaching unions have mounted a campaign of industrial action over issues including pay, pensions and workload, Education Secretary Mr Gove warned their actions would "hold back our children".

In his speech to the Conservative Party conference Mr Gove also criticised union general secretaries who asked him not to single out high-achieving schools for praise because it would make others feel "uncomfortable".

Mr Gove told activists in Birmingham: "How can we succeed as a country when every time we find success and celebrate it there are those who say 'no, someone might feel uncomfortable'.

"What I feel uncomfortable about is the soft bigotry of low expectations that lead so many to believe that some people can't be as good as the rest."

Continuing his assault on the unions, Mr Gove insisted he viewed teaching as the "noblest profession, the highest calling".

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Conference update: Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt gave a highly-personal defence of the Conservatives' attitude to the NHS today.

Mr Hunt, attacked for comments last weekend where he said he favoured cutting the abortion limit to 12 weeks, told Tory activists Labour's claim to the health service was insulting.

He also outlined greater access to radiotherapy, a crackdown on NHS chiefs who preside over care scandals, and called for hospitals and doctors' surgeries to offer more services online.

Mr Hunt attacked Labour's possessiveness of the health service, which the party founded in 1948.

He said: "The NHS does not belong to Labour any more than victory in the Second World War belongs to the Conservatives.

"No party has a monopoly on compassion and it is an insult to common decency for any party to claim it, because the NHS belongs to all of us; to my children born on the NHS, to my father who worked as a manager for the NHS and my mother who worked as an A&E nurse and midwife.

"But most of all to the three million of us who use it every week."

12:56pm

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt speaks at the conference

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Light interlude: "The Grim Reaper came for me last night, but I fought him off with a vacuum cleaner. Talk about Dyson with Death."

Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris cracks a "joke" at the Conservative Party conference.

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Round-up of Boris's speech to conference: London Mayor Boris Johnson today hailed the "fantastic job" being done by Prime Minister David Cameron and predicted he will lead the Conservatives to victory in the general election scheduled for 2015.

In his keynote speech to the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Mr Johnson made a point of picking out the PM for praise.

Gossip in the bars and corridors of Birmingham has this week been dominated by the possibility of the Mayor making a bid for Mr Cameron's job, following polls suggesting that he could give the Tories - currently trailing Labour by around 10 points - a massive boost with voters.

But Mr Johnson has stressed his loyalty to Mr Cameron, while the PM has shrugged off the speculation, insisting he is unworried by the "rock star status" granted the Mayor, who was given a rapturous reception by delegates at a rally last night.

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He's brilliant that bloke... Ooo, whatsisname?

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Conference update: London Mayor Boris Johnson today hailed the "fantastic job" being done by Prime Minister David Cameron and predicted he will lead the Conservatives to victory in the general election scheduled for 2015.

In his keynote speech to the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Mr Johnson made a point of picking out the PM for praise.

Gossip in the bars and corridors of Birmingham has this week been dominated by the possibility of the Mayor making a bid for Mr Cameron's job, following polls suggesting that he could give the Tories - currently trailing Labour by around 10 points - a massive boost with voters.

But Mr Johnson has stressed his loyalty to Mr Cameron, while the PM has shrugged off the speculation, insisting he is unworried by the "rock star status" granted the Mayor, who was given a rapturous reception by delegates at a rally last night.

Today, Mr Johnson thanked activists who helped him to re-election as Mayor of London earlier this year.

"You showed that we can overcome a Labour lead and win in the places which the two Eds are so cocky as to think that they own," said Mr Johnson.