Badenoch denies ‘British Iron Dome’ plan – after Tories use phrase in press release

Kemi Badenoch is due to give a speech to close the Conservative party conference on Wednesday. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Kemi Badenoch has denied she compared a new air defence system proposed by the party to Israel’s Iron Dome, despite using the term in her press release and a newspaper article.

The Conservative leader said the party’s proposed “Britannia Shield” would not be comparable to the missile defence system in Israel, which is primarily designed to counter short-range attacks.