Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has condemned Keir Starmer for taking the knee during Britain’s Black Lives Matter riots in 2020.

The blindside came in a speech at a conference of right-wing populists, conservatives and Christians in East London this morning.

In her wide-ranging speech about the crisis facing the west and what the right must do to succeed, Ms Badenoch slammed the Labour leader for being “cowed by the mob” during the race riots.

She accused the Labour leader of cowardice, adding: “He took the knee in response to the Black Lives Matter protest, in response to a problem that was not in this country and did not apply.”

“Why? Because he was cowed by the mob. The problem isn’t liberalism, it’s liberalism.”

The Tory leader fumed: “Our country is not racist. We don’t need to apologise, pay reparations or give away the Chagos islands!”

Badenoch also took aim at Nigel Farage in a subtle dig, warning right-wingers in Britain thinking of voting for Reform UK: “Strong men have lots of words but no plan. They promise everything and deliver nothing.”

She suggested the Conservatives are similar to Donald Trump, who required a first sting in office to spot the problems, but then need a second term in order to fix them.

The Tory leader suggested that the problems facing the West are existential, comparing some to those experienced by the Roman Empire before its collapse.

She promised that if the Tories can “get this right, we stand at the start of a new conservative century full of opportunity.”

However, she warned: “If we get this wrong, our country and civilisation will be lost.”

The Tory leader was in need of a punchy speech that cut through to voters, as polls suggest Nigel Farage is sucking up all the political oxygen.

Kemi Badenoch has been struggling since being elected leader to dominate the debate, marked by many polls continuing to put the Tories in third place.

Despite speaking at a conference of conservatives, she defended liberal values in the face of a poll last week suggesting many young people are being turned off democracy.

While she expressed sympathy with young people’s longing for a ‘strong man’ leader who may not value democracy, she warned: “Be careful what you wish for”.

Drawing on her own experience growing up in a military dictatorship, she passionately defended democracy, free speech and free trade.

The Tory leader said classical liberal values are under threat from both the right and the left.

While the left, she argued, actively want to undermine western values, she accused the right of losing confidence in those values and losing the ability to defend them.

She has been reluctant to announce policies at this stage of the electoral cycle, though hinted that her next manifesto will include a boost to defence spending and a major crackdown on benefits.

Amid a row about whether Sir Keir Starmer will find the extra cash needed to boost defence, the Tory leader warned: “Failing to spend more on defence is not peacemaking it is weakness and only emboldens their threats to peace and stability.”

She also warned: “Millions cannot just sit on welfare and be paid to do so. And if they don’t like it that’s their problem, not the state’s”.