What time is Liz Truss speech today? Conservative Party Conference 2022 in Birmingham schedule - how to watch

Liz Truss’s make or break week at Conservative Party Conference 2022 has not gone to plan. The Tory Party is in near-open revolt, while the Prime Minister and her Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng have been forced to U-turn several times on the mini budget.

The government’s problems began when a looming House of Commons rebellion forced Kwasi Kwarteng to scrap the scrapping of the 45p income tax rate for top earners - a policy Ms Truss had defended just hours earlier. Mr Kwarteng has also reportedly been pushed into bringing forward his medium term fiscal plan by almost a month.

The next battleground appears to be benefits, with top ministers Penny Mordaunt and Suella Braverman breaking ranks to give their opinions on whether or not they should be uprated in line with inflation. The PM has refused to confirm whether they will rise, as the government looks for cost savings following its big tax giveaway.

Conservative MPs have been so jittery this week because the mini budget and Liz Truss’s reaction to it has not only led to a major poll lead for Labour, but has also seen the markets lose confidence in the new PM. The pound briefly fell to record lows, causing debt markets to crash, while the IMF warned the fiscal event would heighten inequality.

With questions openly swirling around whether she can continue to lead the Conservatives, the Tory leader faces a mammoth task to unite her divided party and assert her authority over it - something she will attempt to do in a keynote speech in Birmingham.

So, when is Liz Truss’s address to the Conservative Party - and what is she expected to say? Here’s what you need to know.

Where is Conservative Party Conference?

The Conservatives alternate the location of their party conference between the Manchester Central Convention Complex and Birmingham’s International Convention Centre (ICC).

In 2022, it is Birmingham’s turn to host the event. However, there have been major logistical issues at the annual conference as train strikes hit the national rail network the day before it started (1 October) and will also take place when it finishes (5 October).

When is Liz Truss speech at Conservative Party Conference?

Liz Truss’s Conservative Party Conference speeches have become must-watch events since her bizarre 2014 speech, in which she laughed at her own gags and delightedly announced she was heading to China to open up new pork markets.

People watching this year’s edition in the hope of catching any viral moments may be disappointed, however, as the PM has sought to toughen up her image in recent years.

Ms Truss will be rounding off the Conservative Party Conference with what she hopes will be a speech that not only unites her divided party, but sends a message to the UK public that the government knows what it is doing.

She is expected to tell delegates that the party is on the right path, and will underline her trickle down economics agenda. "Whenever there is change, there is disruption," an advance extract of the PM’s speech reads.

"Not everyone will be in favour. But everyone will benefit from the result - a growing economy and a better future."

The speech is taking place today (Wednesday 5 October). It is expected Ms Truss will take to the stage at 11am.

Her speech will come in a session titled ‘Getting Britain Moving’ that will also see speeches by party chair Jake Berry and Cabinet Office Secretary Nadhim Zahawi.

How can you watch Conservative Party Conference?

Given the economic uncertainty plaguing the UK and the political turmoil facing Liz Truss, this year’s Conservative Party Conference has become a must-see event.

NationalWorld will be providing full coverage of the biggest stories that come out of the ICC in Birmingham, including Liz Truss’s keynote speech.

If you would like to watch the event live, the BBC and Sky News will be showing major speeches across their networks. The Conservative Party is also likely to livestream some of the action from its social media accounts.