Thanks for following the blog today. Here are all the key developments:
Sir Keir Starmer paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he received since entering Number 10 after a row over ministerial donations.
The Labour peer Waheed Alli is under investigation by a parliamentary watchdog over a potential breach of the code of conduct. Alli is being investigated after a complaint that he has not registered his interests correctly. He has been thrust into the spotlight recently over tens of thousands of pounds worth of gifts he gave to Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner.
Starmer pledged that the UK and European Union would work to strengthen co-operation on the economy and security, as well as to “make Brexit work” after meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
The four Conservative leadership candidates set out their visions for the party – consensus from the commentariat was that James Cleverly came out strongest.
We’ll be back tomorrow with all the latest happenings in Westminster.
Starmer has acknowledged there would be “issues which are difficult to resolve” in his talks with the European Union.
Following his meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, he told reporters:
We’re putting our relationship with Europe on a more solid, stable footing.
That’s what the British people want, a return to pragmatic, sensible leadership when it comes to dealing with our closest neighbours, because they know that this matters for growth, for jobs and for security.
The detailed work to take this forward starts now. We’ve agreed to hold regular UK-EU summits at leader level to review progress, starting with a summit in the first half of next year.
Of course, there will be issues which are difficult to resolve and areas on which we will stand firm.
There will be no return to freedom of movement, no return to the customs union, no return to the single market.
ut we will find constructive ways to work together and deliver for the British people.
Starmer said his premiership would mark “a return to doing business in a respectful way” with the European Union.
The Prime Minister told reporters in Brussels:
Tone does matter. Resetting does matter.
That has been a very important part of the message that I have carried into the meeting today.
A return to pragmatism, to doing business in a respectful way and in a way which, I think, will focus on deliverables, rather than charging to the nearest camera to use a megaphone.
He acknowledged there “of course will be challenges along the way” during the process.
Updated
Keir Starmer says it was 'right' for him to repay £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality
Starmer said it was “right” for him to repay the donations while new principles for accepting gifts were drawn up.
He told reporters in Brussels:
We came in as a government of change.
We are now going to bring forward principles for donations, because, until now, politicians have used their best individual judgment on a case-by-case basis. I think we need some principles of general application.
So, I took the position that until the principles are in place it was right for me to make those repayments.
Updated
David Lammy accepted £2,300 worth of hospitality from Tottenham Hotspur FC to watch the north London derby in September.
According to the latest register of interests, the Foreign Secretary declared the amount for five tickets with the use of a box to watch the game on September 15.
Angela Rayner declared £836 in hospitality as a “visit to (a) DJ booth” after the Deputy Prime Minister was seen partying in Ibiza.
The registration relates to a trip to nightclub Hi Ibiza on the Spanish island, where Rayner was filmed dancing and being cheered on by the crowd over summer.
The name of the donor listed on the latest register of interests is Ayita LLC.
Asked by journalists about EU youth mobility schemes, Starmer said that today was “not a discussion that went into the details at this stage”, but rather about “setting the parameters, setting the tone” and “milestones along the way”.
He said “the emphasis was on what we can do, not what we can’t do”.
Updated
In a press conference, Sir Keir Starmer said he had a “very productive meeting” with Ursula von der Leyen.
He said the pair took part in call with fellow G7 members “where we all condemned Iran’s abhorrent attack on Israel last night”.
They agreed on Israel’s right to defend itself. “We call on all sides to show restraint,” he said.
They stressed the urgency of ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza to allow space for political solutions.
On the UK’s relationship with the EU, he said:
We can do more together.
Promoting growth and prosperity, working together on shared challenges like climate change, energy security and illegal migration and strengthening our shared security and stability. So we’re putting our relationship with Europe on a more solid stable footing. That’s what British people want a return to pragmatic sensible leadership when it come sot dealing with our closest neighbours.
This matters for growth, jobs and security.
He said there would be regular UK-EU summits, strating with a summit in the first half of next year.
But he added: “There will be no return to freedom of movement, the customs union, the single market.”
Liam Conlon, the Labour MP and son of of Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray, accepted two tickets to a Taylor Swift concert from the Premier League, according to the latest register of interests.
The MP for Beckenham and Penge declared £1,600 worth in hospitality for the gig at Wembley Stadium, received on August 20.
Asked about the news that Labour peer Waheed Alli is under investigation by a parliamentary watchdog over a potential breach of the code of conduct, a Labour spokesperson has said:
Lord Alli will co-operate fully with the Lords Commissioner and he is confident all interests have been registered.
We cannot comment further while this is ongoing.
Updated
Here is a list of the donations and gifts from Lord Waheed Alli declared by MPs that appear in the latest version of the register of members’ financial interests, which was published on September 2 2024.
The latest register includes all donations and gifts declared in the previous 12 months.
1. Donations
19 October 2023: £10,000 to Sir Keir Starmer (Labour)
Description in register: “For the private office of the Leader of the Opposition.”7 November 7 2023: £12,500 to David Lammy (Labour)
“Towards paying for additional staff for my office.”16 November 2023: £8,500 to Angela Rayner (Labour)
“Donation to support me in my capacity as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.”8 December 8 2023: £10,000 to Bridget Phillipson (Labour)
“To host a number of events, including on behalf of the Shadow Education Team.”11 December 2023: £4,000 to Bridget Phillipson
“To host a number of events, including on behalf of the Shadow Education Team.”26 February 2024: £6,000 to Sir Keir Starmer
“For the private office of the Leader of the Opposition.”15 April 2024: £8,250 to Angela Rayner
“To support me in my capacity as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.”26 April 2024: £900 to Angela Rayner
“To support me in my capacity as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.”29 July 2024: £3,550 to Angela Rayner
“Donation in kind for undertaking parliamentary duties.”2 August 2024: £10,000 to Liam Conlon (Labour)
2. Gifts
22 March 2023 (published in register on December 3 2023): £1,200,000 to Dame Siobhain McDonagh (Labour)
“Interest free loan to be repaid on the sale of the home I share with a family member. The move was necessary to provide the family member with complete ground floor access.”24 April 2024: £16,200 to Sir Keir Starmer
Work clothing22 May 2024: £2,485 to Sir Keir Starmer
Multiple pairs of glasses2 August 2024: £20,437.28 to Sir Keir Starmer
Accommodation
Sir Keir Starmer pays back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality
Sir Keir Starmer has paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he received since entering Number 10 after a row over ministerial donations.
The Prime Minister is covering the cost of six Taylor Swift tickets, four to the races and a clothing rental agreement with a high-end designer favoured by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.
It comes after Sir Keir and other Cabinet members – who vowed to “clean up” British politics – faced weeks of criticism for accepting tens of thousands of pounds worth of freebies from wealthy donors.
The Prime Minister has committed to overhauling hospitality rules for ministers to ensure better transparency about what is provided following the backlash.
On Wednesday, a Downing Street spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister has commissioned a new set of principles on gifts and hospitality to be published as part of the updated ministerial code.
Ahead of the publication of the new code, the Prime Minister has paid for several entries on his own register. This will appear in the next register of members’ interests.
Gifts paid for by Sir Keir include four Taylor Swift tickets from Universal Music Group totalling £2,800, two from the Football Association at a cost of £598, and four to Doncaster Races from Arena Racing Corporation at £1,939.
An £839 clothing rental agreement with Edeline Lee, the designer recently worn by his wife to London Fashion Week, along with one hour of hair and makeup, was also covered by the Prime Minister.
Read more here:
Updated
UK and EU pledge to strengthen economic and defence cooperation
The UK and European Union will work to strengthen co-operation on the economy and security as Sir Keir Starmer promised to “make Brexit work”.
The Prime Minister met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for talks in Brussels, with Starmer promising to offer “pragmatic, sensible leadership” as he pushed for a reset in the UK-EU relationship after the turbulent Tory years.
A joint statement after the talks said the two had agreed to meet again this autumn, with a plan for regular EU-UK summits at leader level beginning in early 2025.
The statement said:
They agreed a stable, positive and forward-looking relationship was in their mutual interests and provided the basis for long-term co-operation.
They agreed to take forward this agenda of strengthened co-operation at pace over the coming months, starting with defining together the areas in which strengthened co-operation would be mutually beneficial, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience, in full respect of their internal procedures and institutional prerogatives.
Speaking in Brussels, Starmer said:
I firmly believe that the British public want to return to pragmatic, sensible leadership when it comes to dealing with our closest neighbours, to make Brexit work and to deliver in their interests, to find ways to boost economic growth, strengthen our security and tackle shared challenges like irregular migration and climate change.
He added that “in dangerous times we have a duty to work together to preserve stability and security”, referring to the crisis in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.
Starmer said:
We are determined to put this relationship back on a stable, positive footing that I think we all want to see.
Von der Leyen said the various arrangements put in place since the Brexit vote, including the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) needed to be fully implemented.
She said:
We have a set of solid agreements in place. We should explore the scope for more co-operation, while we focus on the full and faithful implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, the Windsor Framework and the TCA.
The Prime Minister is under pressure to agree to Brussels’ calls for a deal on youth mobility, to allow young EU citizens greater freedom to come to the UK to study and work and vice versa, something he has so far resisted.
The Prime Minister’s red lines for the reset rule out a return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement. But pro-EU campaigners have pushed for him to give ground on a youth mobility scheme.
Sir Nick Harvey, chief executive of European Movement UK, said:
Dismissing the idea of reciprocal youth mobility simply means letting down British young people, who face all sorts of economic difficulties and have seen their horizons curtailed by Brexit.
From bad jokes to war stories: here are the key takeaways from the Tory leadership speeches, according to the Guardian’s political correspondent Aletha Adu.
Sir Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen have agreed to work “at pace” to take forward “an agenda of strengthened co-operation”.
The Prime Minister and European Commission president will meet again this autumn and there will be regular leader-level EU-UK summits, with the first expected in early 2025.
In a joint statement, the leaders said they “underlined their mutual commitment to the full and faithful implementation” of the existing post-Brexit agreements, and they “reaffirmed their mutual commitment to uphold international law and to the European Convention on Human Rights”.
It added:
They agreed a stable, positive and forward-looking relationship was in their mutual interests and provided the basis for long-term co-operation.
They agreed to take forward this agenda of strengthened co-operation at pace over the coming months, starting with defining together the areas in which strengthened co-operation would be mutually beneficial, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience, in full respect of their internal procedures and institutional prerogatives.
The SNP has called for a “full investigation” by the standards commissioner and the independent adviser on ministers’ interests into donations made by Lord Alli to Labour MPs.
The party’s Cabinet Office spokesman Brendan O’Hara MP said:
I welcome the announcement of this investigation, following calls from the SNP. The Labour Party freebies scandal has wrecked public confidence in Keir Starmer, his government and the Westminster system, and there must be full transparency and accountability.
It’s now essential that in addition to this narrow inquiry, there is a full investigation by standards commissioners and the independent adviser on ministers’ interests into all the donations made by Lord Alli to Labour MPs and the subsequent granting of a Downing Street security pass.
Voters are appalled that Labour ministers have been lining their pockets with more than £800,000 of luxury designer clothes, holidays, hospitality and donations, while imposing painful austerity cuts on the rest of us, and they want to know what donors were getting in exchange.
We need answers – including why these gifts were taken, whether there have been breaches of the MPs and ministerial code, and why Lord Alli was handed a security pass to the halls of power.
The Labour peer Waheed Alli is under investigation by a parliamentary watchdog over a potential breach of the code of conduct, writes the Guardian’s political correspondent Eleni Courea.
Alli is being investigated after a complaint that he has not registered his interests correctly.
He was listed on the Lords standards commissioners’ website on Wednesday as being subject to an inquiry.
“The fact that an investigation is taking place does not mean that the rules have been broken,” the notice stated.
Lord Alli, a media businessman and a major Labour party donor who is worth an estimated £200m, has been thrust into the spotlight over tens of thousands of pounds worth of gifts he gave to Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner.
Updated
The SNP’s Cabinet Office spokesperson Brendan O’Hara MP, has now welcomed the Lords commissioner’s investigation into Lord Alli, after calling for an inquiry last week.
In a statement, O’Hara wrote:
The Labour Party freebies scandal has wrecked public confidence in Keir Starmer, his government and the Westminster system, and there must be full transparency and accountability.
It’s now essential that in addition to this narrow inquiry, there is a full investigation by Standards Commissioners and the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests into all the donations made by Lord Alli to Labour MPs and the subsequent granting of a Downing Street security pass.
Voters are appalled that Labour ministers have been lining their pockets with more than £800,000 of luxury designer clothes, holidays, hospitality and donations, while imposing painful austerity cuts on the rest of us, and they want to know what donors were getting in exchange.
We need answers - including why these gifts were taken, whether there have been breaches of the MPs and ministerial code, and why Lord Alli was handed a security pass to the halls of power.
The reference to the security pass comes after it emerged he used it to help organise a reception for fellow donors in the garden of No 10. Labour says he held the pass to help with “transition work” once the party came into government.
In his letter asking for an investigation into Lord Alli, the SNP MP Brendan O’Hara wrote that the revelations about donations had “become Sir Keir Starmer’s version of the expenses scandal”.
He said that unless the matter were “comprehensively investigated”, then it was “inevitable that the damaging drip, drip of revelations will continue to erode public trust”.
The row over Waheed Alli’s donations had risked defining Labour’s first months in office, and partly overshadowed their conference in Liverpool last week. The risks are particularly high for Keir Starmer, given his repeated election pledges to be a contrast to the sleaze and self-interest of the Conservatives.
The SNP had asked for an investigation into Alli’s donations last Friday in a letter to the standards commissioners in the House of Commons and House of Lords, the independent adviser on ministers’ interests, Sir Laurie Magnus, and the cabinet secretary, Simon Case.
You can read more from my colleagues Rowena Mason and Peter Walker here on their report last Friday:
As the row over Alli’s donations to Labour emerged last month, my colleague Kiran Stacey profiled the millionaire businessman, who made his name as a co-founder of Planet 24, the television production company that created convention-defying hits such as the Big Breakfast and The Word. He later became chair of the fashion website Asos.
You can read his profile here:
Updated
We now have more details into the investigation into Waheed Alli, the Labour peer at the centre of a row over donations to Keir Starmer.
He is facing a probe by the Lords’ standards watchdog over an alleged failure to register interests.
It comes after a backlash over tens of thousands of pounds worth of gifts accepted by the prime minister from the peer, a major party donor.
According to an update published on Parliament’s website on Wednesday, Lord Alli is being investigated by the Lords’ commissioner for “alleged non-registration of interests leading to potential breaches of paragraphs 14(a) and 17 of the thirteenth edition of the code of conduct”.
These rules relate to making clear what the interests are that might be reasonably thought to influence a member’s parliamentary actions and ensuring entries are up to date.
Last week, Keir Starmer said the row over him borrowing Labour donor Waheed Alli’s luxury flat for filming was “farcical” and that the public would come to their own judgments about his reasons for taking support from the peer.
It has just been announced the Lords commissioner is investigating the peer over “alleged non-registration of interests”.
The prime minister had sought to downplay the row over the flat when he was asked about his gifts from the Labour peer after weeks of questions about receiving clothing, spectacles and temporary use of a £18m penthouse from Alli.
He said there was nothing wrong with having used Alli’s flat for filming during the Covid pandemic, after questions about why he used the peer’s house rather than his own or his office.
“That was just part of a video we were putting out in relation to – I think it was during Covid. Anybody who thinks that I was pretending it was my own home – the idea that I’ve got union jacks by my fireplace at home and or that I would invite a bunch of you lot into my living room to have a look around. I mean, I think the idea that I was trying to pretend that it was my home is pretty farcical. And, no, I’m not going to be inviting you in to film me in front of my fireplace. I’m very sorry, that’s about the last thing I’d do,” he told reporters.
Lord Alli investigated by Lords commissioner
Labour peer Lord Alli is under investigation by the Lords’ commissioner over “alleged non-registration of interests” leading to a possible breach of the members’ code of conduct, PA Media has just reported.
More details soon …
Updated
Starmer has tweeted a picture of himself meeting Ursula von der Leyen today, and, as expected, praises working with “our closest international partners”.
The UK is stronger when we work in lockstep with our closest international partners.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 2, 2024
This has never been more important with war, conflict and insecurity all knocking on Europe’s door.
Better co-operation will secure our borders, keep us safe and boost economic growth. pic.twitter.com/AGELbS6g9l
Starmer facing pressure on youth mobility scheme as he visits Brussels
Away from the Tory conference, which is drawing to a close, we can turn to Keir Starmer’s movements.
The prime minister is in Brussels today where he is meeting the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, as part of his push for a reset with the EU.
It’s his first visit as prime minister and he is under pressure from Brussels to open discussions on a youth mobility scheme that would allow young people from the EU to live and work in the UK for a fixed period, and vice versa.
Starmer has said his government will not seek wholesale negotiation of the Brexit deal but he is looking to tweak the relationship in a range of areas.
As Reuters reports, the EU shares his desire for a joint security pact, but talks on barriers to the movement of goods and people could prove thornier.
“I firmly believe that the British public wants a return to pragmatic, sensible leadership when it comes to dealing with our closest neighbours,” Starmer said after arriving in Brussels.
Verdict from the commentariat - Cleverly did best
As mentioned earlier, the consensus amongst the commentariat is that James Cleverly is today’s winner. This is what journalists are saying.
From George Parker from the Financial Times
A look back at four days in Birmingham and the surreal mood in the ICC: Tory mood far more buoyant than Labour last week. "Delusional" is the verdict of one shadow cabinet member. But one big winner this week: James "let's be more normal" Cleverlyhttps://t.co/1eAwKjNESk
— George Parker (@GeorgeWParker) October 2, 2024
A look back at four days in Birmingham and the surreal mood in the ICC: Tory mood far more buoyant than Labour last week. “Delusional” is the verdict of one shadow cabinet member. But one big winner this week: James “let’s be more normal” Cleverly
From Tim Shipman from the Sunday Times
Grassroots liked Badenoch, but MPs v.worried about her gaffes. Tugendhat showed he is a serious public servant. Jenrick's no notes routine was impressive but members less excited than I expected. Cleverly had good jokes, a simple message and they warmed to him in the hall
— Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) October 2, 2024
Grassroots liked Badenoch, but MPs v.worried about her gaffes. Tugendhat showed he is a serious public servant. Jenrick’s no notes routine was impressive but members less excited than I expected. Cleverly had good jokes, a simple message and they warmed to him in the hall
From Christopher Hope from GB News
James Cleverly has been the big winner at the Conservative Party conference. Will MPs put him through to the final two next week?
— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) October 2, 2024
James Cleverly has been the big winner at the Conservative Party conference. Will MPs put him through to the final two next week?
Very probably, is the answer.
From Lewis Goodall from the News Agents podcast
Who’s had the best conference (in order)
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) October 2, 2024
1) Cleverly
2) Jenrick
3) Tugendhat
4) Badenoch
And there’s a big gap between 1 and 2.
Increasingly feels like it’s a Cleverly v Jenrick face off. JC definitely has the momentum. Be prepared for a lot of attacks on him before next vote
Who’s had the best conference (in order)
1) Cleverly
2) Jenrick
3) Tugendhat
4) Badenoch
And there’s a big gap between 1 and 2.
Increasingly feels like it’s a Cleverly v Jenrick face off. JC definitely has the momentum. Be prepared for a lot of attacks on him before next vote
From Dan Hodges from the Mail on Sunday
Watched the hustings. Only one candidate looked like a serious leader and potential Prime Minister. James Cleverly. And it wasn’t really that close.
— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) October 2, 2024
Watched the hustings. Only one candidate looked like a serious leader and potential Prime Minister. James Cleverly. And it wasn’t really that close.
From Harry Cole from the Sun
The Tories leave their party conference with the most open leadership contest in decades.
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) October 2, 2024
And it is James Cleverly with the big mo as the race heads back to Westminster.
After a disappointing joint fourth finish in the MPs voting earlier this month, the ex-Foreign and Home…
The Tories leave their party conference with the most open leadership contest in decades. And it is James Cleverly with the big mo as the race heads back to Westminster.
After a disappointing joint fourth finish in the MPs voting earlier this month, the ex-Foreign and Home Secretary was the breakout star of the gathering here in Birmingham.
Without the gaffes that have blighted frontrunners Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick, Cleverly -who the members like after a stint as party chairman ahead of the 2019 election - is coming up the outside line fast.
If you don’t believe me, just look at the bookies where he is now second favourite.
After the beauty parade speeches, it is clear that the members still do have a soft spot for Badenoch, and lapped up her red meat heavy address.
But it is still the MPs she has to worry about and is now at a very real risk of being squeezed into their place.
From my colleague Jessica Elgot
This conference was designed to artificially generate an environment where the underdog would prevail.
— Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) October 2, 2024
It could have been Jenrick, but he took the mantle of the favourite almost too quickly.
So now it’s another guy - James “be more normal” Cleverly.
This conference was designed to artificially generate an environment where the underdog would prevail.
It could have been Jenrick, but he took the mantle of the favourite almost too quickly.
So now it’s another guy - James “be more normal” Cleverly.
From Jonathan Walker from the Sunday Express
Cleverly probably established himself as the leading candidate of the left at #cpc24 - if we buy the idea that he and Tom are the "left" candidates while Kemi and Jenrick are the right
— Jonathan Walker (@jonwalker121) October 2, 2024
Cleverly probably established himself as the leading candidate of the left at #cpc24 - if we buy the idea that he and Tom are the “left” candidates while Kemi and Jenrick are the right
From Adam Boulton, the former Sky News political editor
As I was saying, all four Conservative Candidates offer warm words and no challenge to direction of the party at the GE defeat. All pitches went down well. Last two likely to be Jenrick & Clerverly… https://t.co/ie7uQTtKEB
— Adam Boulton (@adamboultonTABB) October 2, 2024
As I was saying, all four Conservative Candidates offer warm words and no challenge to direction of the party at the GE defeat. All pitches went down well. Last two likely to be Jenrick & Clerverly
From Christian Calgie from the Express
Snap analysis:
— Calgie (@christiancalgie) October 2, 2024
- Jenrick's frontrunner status has become a burden, creating very high expectations. He didn't not meet them, but he was certainly overshadowed.
- Kemi was confident, I'm still not sure if I or the public quite understand what she's selling
- But dealt a huge… pic.twitter.com/53Gjjny2nA
Snap analysis:
- Jenrick’s frontrunner status has become a burden, creating very high expectations. He didn’t not meet them, but he was certainly overshadowed.
- Kemi was confident, I’m still not sure if I or the public quite understand what she’s selling
- But dealt a huge blow by a knockout performance from James Cleverly
- Leaves the race for the final two, and the winner, more open than ever
From Steve Richards, the writer and broadcaster
Quite significant that R Jenrick gets the year wrong of M Thatcher’s election as leader given he framed his speech around it..he begun and ended by saying it was 1974..there were 2 general elections in 74..no space for a leadership contest that Thatcher won in 75..he’s shallow…
— steve richards (@steverichards14) October 2, 2024
Quite significant that R Jenrick gets the year wrong of M Thatcher’s election as leader given he framed his speech around it..he begun and ended by saying it was 1974..there were 2 general elections in 74..no space for a leadership contest that Thatcher won in 75..he’s shallow…
From Tom Harwood from GB News
Cleverly and Jenrick delivered standout speeches.
— Tom Harwood (@tomhfh) October 2, 2024
Badenoch and Tugendhat assured but lacking in magic.
Cleverly and Jenrick delivered standout speeches.
Badenoch and Tugendhat assured but lacking in magic.
From Henry Zeffman from the BBC
Totally unscientific but in the hall that felt like a triumph for James Cleverly. Followed by a much bigger standing ovation than Tom Tugendhat got
— Henry Zeffman (@hzeffman) October 2, 2024
Totally unscientific but in the hall that felt like a triumph for James Cleverly. Followed by a much bigger standing ovation than Tom Tugendhat got
From Kate Ferguson from the Sun on Sunday
James Cleverly the breakout star of conference.
— Kate Ferguson (@kateferguson4) October 2, 2024
But Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch both served plenty of red meat to the base
James Cleverly the breakout star of conference.
But Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch both served plenty of red meat to the base
From James Heale from the Spectator
This is the third time the Tories have had a beauty pageant at conference.
— James Heale (@JAHeale) October 2, 2024
‘Butler fails to rouse Tories’ was the most memorable headline from 1963.
The same might be said of Tom Tugendhat after his speech today.https://t.co/hAChMl7v8C
That’s all from me for today. Colleagues are taking over the blog now.
Ladbrokes, the betting firm, says it has cut its odds on James Cleverly to win the Tory leadership contest, and that he is now second favourite. Alex Apati, a spokesperson for the firm, said:
As expected, a flurry of bets on Cleverly over the last few days have seen our traders slash his odds of replacing Rishi Sunak ... he’s now comfortably Jenrick’s closest challenger for the job.
Ladbrokes has Robert Jenrick on 4/7, Cleverly on 11/4, Kemi Badenoch on 6/1 and Tom Tugendhat on 16/1.
Sometimes campaigners manipulate betting odds by putting lots of bets on their candidate, so that the odds shorten and it looks as if they have momentum. But it is not likely that is happening today. There is a consensus that Cleverly has done well at the conference, and with his speech this morning. People who bet on politics tend to be people who follow it closely, and trust their judgment, so this market move looks genuine.
The Tory MP Jesse Norman, who is backing Kemi Badenoch, has posted this on social media.
I am very sorry to have to say it, but that speech of Robert Jenrick's was lazy, mendacious, simplistic tripe.
— Jesse Norman (@Jesse_Norman) October 2, 2024
I am very sorry to have to say it, but that speech of Robert Jenrick’s was lazy, mendacious, simplistic tripe.
These are from my colleague Kiran Stacey, who has been monitoring the post-hustings spin from rival camps.
The Tory leadership campaign is getting bitter.
— Kiran Stacey (@kiranstacey) October 2, 2024
- Rival campaigns describe Cleverly’s speech as “That of a party chair not a leader… A bit Comical Ali.”
- On Tugendhat: “The speech of a Cambridge professor lecturing on Keats.”
The Tory leadership campaign is getting bitter.
- Rival campaigns describe Cleverly’s speech as “That of a party chair not a leader… A bit Comical Ali.”
- On Tugendhat: “The speech of a Cambridge professor lecturing on Keats.”
Jesse Norman, prominent Badenoch backer on Jenrick: “A dreadful speech… fundamentally untrue.”
Cleverly’s leadership bid gathers pace as he calls on Tories to be ‘more normal’
Here is our story on the leadership hustings. Jessica Elgot and Kiran Stacey report:
James Cleverly has seized the momentum in the Conservative leadership contest, calling on his party to be “more normal” after a tumultuous few days for his two main rivals, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.
In a speech on the final day of the Tory conference in which he apologised to the membership and the country for the failings of the parliamentary party, he said victory would come again when the Conservatives were “enthusiastic, relatable, positive, optimistic, let’s be more normal”.
But despite days of difficult headlines, Badenoch, the shadow housing secretary, received a rapturous reception in the hall for her attacks on net zero and identity politics. She closed the conference on Wednesday with a speech taking on her critics and promising to “tell the truth”.
The former business secretary said: “I grew up in a place where fear was everywhere. Listening as you hear your neighbours scream, as they are being burgled and beaten … When you’ve experienced that kind of fear, you’re not worried about being attacked on Twitter.”
This is from Christopher Hope, GB News’ political editor.
NEW
— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) October 2, 2024
Overwhelming support for James Cleverly in 10 random interviews I’ve just done for @GBNEWS with members leaving the hall just now.
Many have switched from other candidates. It seems Cleverly won the debate in the hall. Will MPs put him through to the final two next week?…
Overwhelming support for James Cleverly in 10 random interviews I’ve just done for @GBNEWS with members leaving the hall just now.
Many have switched from other candidates. It seems Cleverly won the debate in the hall. Will MPs put him through to the final two next week?…
David Davis endorses Badenoch
The Kemi Badenoch campaign has released a statement from David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, saying he is now endorsing her. Davis said:
Kemi understands, as Margaret Thatcher did, that Conservatives must be address the everyday problems that people face. We should not say only what is fashionable or make endless promises which we cannot deliver, but carefully build radical policies which will revitalise Britain’s confidence, freedom and prosperity.
As an engineer, with clear conservative principles and a willingness to speak the truth, Kemi is the leader who can deliver that.
Kemi’s speech today was the conference speech of a leader.
Four Tory leadership candidates' speeches - snap verdict
It always takes a while to work out the full impact of a political speech. There is the instant response from people who have heard it in the hall, then people read it again, watch how it is refracted through the social media, find out how the focus groups and the polls respond, and after a few days a settled consensus emerges. At this point it does not feel as if there was a standout winner, but James Cleverly was probably the candidate who did most to outperform expectations.
Here is my take on the four speeches.
Tom Tugendhat: Tugendhat arrived at the conference as the underdog, he has avoided any gaffes, but that was probably not a speech that will do enough to lift him in the rankings. Having a military record tends to help in politics, but it will only get you so far, and in the speech he was relatively light on how he would change policy, or the party.
James Cleverly: Cleverly has probably had the best conference, in that nothing has really gone wrong for him, and of the four speakers he easily came across as the warmest, most engaging and nicest. Starting with an apology was a good move. Despite his references to change, he is arguably the most status quo candidate, but that might make him a safe choice for MPs, and members. His speech was the most optimistic, and the best written.
Robert Jenrick: Jenrick has been favourite in the contest for a while, and that is unlikely to change, but that was not a speech that will consolidate his lead. He is offering the clearest policy on immigration, and the ECHR. But he does not convey 100% authenticity (speeches are a good test of this – with the Thatcher, and Labour-bashing passages, it felt he was trying a little too hard) and his policy platform felt a just a little too ‘ChatGPT, Write a speech that will please the Telegraph’.
Kemi Badenoch: There is no doubt about Badenoch’s authenticity, but that could be a problem too. What she is offering is extreme – the entire recasting of the state, Tory Leninism, perhaps a better speech for a Reform UK leadership contest than a Tory one. As a speaker, she was compelling, and she had more change to offer than any of her rivals, but to a lot of people she will come over as harsh and aggressive, and there must be Tory members who will worry where her plan to dismantle parts of the state will end up. (Badenoch is confident talking about principles, but whenever anyone gets on to what this might mean in practice – cutting maternity pay, cutting the minimum wage etc – she shies away.) Badenoch referenced Keith Joseph, a hero for some Tories, but others will remember that his own bid for the leadership in 1975 was cut short after he floated ideas that colleagues viewed as crackers.
Updated
All four candidate are now on stage together taking applause. (This morning officials were saying they did not expect a group photgraph to happen.)
The conference is now ending with a rendition of the national anthem.
Badenoch ended by saying she wanted:
A Britain that is friends with its neighbors but will always proudly protect its national interests, a Britain at ease with itself, a Britain that believes in itself and that sort of Britain can only come about because of renewed conservative principles,
The time to start that renewal is right now.
Badenoch says she 'rewire, reboot and reprogram' British state, with comprehensive review
Badenoch says she wants to “rewrite the rules of the game”. He explains:
If I become leader, we will immediately begin a,once in a generation undertaking, the sort of project not attempted since the days of Keith Joseph in the 1970s, a comprehensive plan to reprogram the British state, to reboot the British economy … one that goes far beyond the relationship with the EU or the ECHR, a plan that considers every aspect of what the state does and why it does it …
A plan built on the principles and priorities of our nation, a plan that looks at our international agreements, at the Human Rights Act, the Equality Act, at judicial review and judicial activism, at the Treasury and the Bank of England, at devolutions and quango, at the civil service and the health service. At how we use power to give power to the British people.
We will rewire, reboot and reprogram. Nothing is more exciting to me. I am an engineer, and engineers do not hide from the truth.
Badenoch says Blairism is still embedded in politics.
The stealthy poisoning of our society needs to stop.
And let’s face it, Liberal Democrats are not going to defend our country.
Unlike the left, we know right from wrong, but we allowed ourselves to be bound by aggressive identity politics, by a Treasury whose rules were written by Gordon Brown and a legal system re-engineered by Tony Blair.
You may think Blair and Brown were defeated in 2010 but the truth is, the left never left. It’s time to make a change.
Badenoch defends her record on trans issues.
For too long, government stayed silent as women were sacked for saying that a man cannot be a woman.
I fought for them while Labour called them bigots, and it wasn’t until the SNP put a sex offender in a women’s prison that they understood the fight I was leading. We won that battle.
Nicola Sturgeon has gone and labor now accepts our arguments.
Badenoch calls for fight against socialism and identity politics
Badenoch says she has been fighting identity politics all her life. And she goes on:
Like the 1970s we face a battle of ideas against the left and its desire for ever greater social and economic control.
It is socialism returned socialism in a suit.
The British public knows that socialism doesn’t work. They know.
But you can give it a new label. You can sneak it in. You can promote class warfare under the banner of equality.
You can take freedom and choice away from families by telling them that Ofsted inspection reports are unfair.
If you call communism, environmentalism, you can close down businesses, block the roads and stop people going to work.
This new politics has made us afraid, afraid to defend the people who need us, like young Conservatives. They tell me they are afraid to share their politics with other students, because they will be attacked that they are marked down by lecturers because of their beliefs. We have let young Conservatives down.
Badenoch says the last government did not defend capitalism.
Capitalism does not mean corporatism. It does not mean monopolies. It means free markets and competition.
We didn’t always protect those principles.
Like Labour, we raised taxes on business, corporation tax, capital gains tax, we tax dividends, and we regulated like labour.
Badenoch attacks Tory government's record on net zero targets
Badenoch says the Tories stopped acting like Conservatives.
Net zero is a good example, she says.
We set a target with no plan on how to meet it, just so politicians could say we were the first country to do so. Now we have a net zero strategy addicted to state subsidy, making energy more expensive and hurting our economy. I am not a climate change sceptic, but I am a net zero sceptic.
Badenoch says she is Conservative because she knows what it's like living in country without security and freedom
Badenoch recalls growing up in Nigeria.
I was born here, but I grew up in a place where fear was everywhere.
You cannot understand it unless you’ve lived it, triple checking that all the doors and windows are locked, waking up in the night at every sound, listening as you hear your neighbors scream as they are being burgled and beaten, and wondering if your home will be next.
When you’ve experienced that kind of fear, you’re not worried about being attacked on Twitter.
You appreciate how rare and precious it is to live in a country with security, democracy, equality under the law and above all else, freedom – free speech, free enterprise, free markets, conservative freedoms, conservative principles.
I am not a Conservative because I study politics at university. I’m an engineer. I am not a Conservative because my family always voted Conservative. I am a Conservative because I have seen what happens when a country loses sight of those principles, and that must not happen here.
Badenoch says the party has to get the diagnosis right.
It is not enough just to be in government, because you can be in government and not have power without a plan to fix the system, you end up just announcing policies, doing media and waiting for something to happen, and then you run into trouble, as this Labour government are quickly finding out …
Our country needs us. We must not let it down for this to work, we need to go back to first principles.
She recalls her father, who was a GP.
He also taught me responsibility.
He would say 80% of what happens to you is down to you. He was right.
And as a GP, he taught me how to solve problems. He would say, if you get the diagnosis wrong, the treatment won’t work.
I miss my dad. He taught me the most important lesson of all, never be afraid to do the right thing. No matter what people say about you, just do the right thing. My father taught me not to be afraid.
Kemi Badenoch tells Tories 'the system is broken' and 'it's time to tell the truth'
The Kemi Badenoch video stresses how disillusioned people are with politics generally.
She is on stage now, and she starts:
It is time to tell the truth, the truth about our party, the truth about our politics, the truth about our future.
For too long, politicians have been scared of the truth. For too long, politicians have hidden behind spin.
For too long, politicians have been scared of the truth for too long.
Politicians have hidden behind spin for too long. Politicians have told the public what they wanted to hear and then done their own thing.
Well, I say enough.
Badenoch says she addressed the Tory conference seven years ago (when she introdued Theresa May before her conference speech). She goes on:
But I am no longer a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed back bencher.
I am a veteran of four government departments and a former cabinet minister.
I have seen the system from the inside. Ladies and gentlemen, the system is broken.
Jenrick ends by saying he wants to lead change.
Come with me, join me, work with me in this new Conservative party and together, let’s take a stand for the country that we love.
Jenrick says he will stand up for British culture.
Well, how have we come to the point where a teacher from Batley remains in hiding because in a class on free speech of all things, they showed a cartoon of Muhammad.
How have we come to the point on our watch in which the NHS has facilitated thousands of children to have life changing, life altering surgery.
How have we come to the point where the RAF the Royal Air Force has chosen pilots on the basis of race and gender?
Well, I say our new Conservative party. We will be tolerant, but we will stand for never tolerating any of this, ever again.
Jenrick says he would cut foreign aid, to fund raising defence spending to 3% of GDP.
Jenrick calls for public sector reform, and a smaller state.
We will also take a stand for a small state that actually works, not a big state that fails …
We need to do for all our public services, what we did for schools in the 2010s empower the good leaders, kick out the bad ones, be relentless in driving up standards and having zero tolerance for failure, that must be at the core of our mission as a party.
Jenrick says the Tories must champion more housebuilding.
Our country needs more homes. We need more industry and infrastructure.
So I have a hard message for all of us today, if we want to be the party of low tax, of growth of business – as I do, and I know you do too – we also need to be the party of fixing the broken system that stops us building the homes, the factories, the data centers, the roads, the trams, the trains the investment that Britain desperately needs.
Jenrick says he's opposed to interim net zero targets
Jenrick says the Tories must “take a stand on net zero”.
He says he does not oppose the principle of net zero, but he does oppose “the crazy interim binding targets put into law by Gordon Brown”.
Jenrick calls for effective freeze in net migration
Jenrick restates his call for the UK to leave the European convention on human rights so it can end illegal migration.
We must take a stand to secure our borders. We must secure our borders.
120,000 people have entered our country on small boats on our watch. 99% of them are still here, costing us billions.
Frankly, there is no future for this party unless we take a stand to answer this problem, and the way to do that we all know is to detain and swiftly deport everyone who comes into our country illegally.
But we will never do that .. unless we leave the European convention on human rights.
Jenrick says he wants “a new great Reform Act, one that leaves the ECHR, repeals Tony Blair’s Human Rights Act and writes a British Bill of Rights”. He goes on:
And the age of mass migration that must end too. It’s not making us any richer, it’s putting immense pressure on our housing, our hospitals, our roads, and if we’re honest with ourselves, the sheer scale and the lack of integration is sapping at our culture and our national cohesion.
If I am your leader, I will fight for the effective freeze in net migration our country needs. And this time, we will cast it in iron. We will do it with a vote in Parliament so that each and every one of us can look the British public in the eye and say, we mean it.
We’re going to do it this time and and if we do that, we give our country the effective breathing space that we need.
Will we be open to the best and the brightest? Yes, absolutely. Will we be open to the world and its wife and all their extended family? No, not anymore, and under my conservative party, never, ever again.
Jenrick says he wants nothing less than 'new Conservative party'
Jenrick says the Tories must be honest about their failings.
I will be painfully honest about our failings. We failed to deliver the strong NHS, the strong economy and, yes, the strong border that we promised friends, we must never fail our people again.
And the party must change, he says.
And the truth is this, if we are going to change this party to restore the trust and the confidence of the people, if we are going to tackle together the immense challenges our country faces, we are going to have to build something new – a new conservative party
That is what I call for today – a new Conservative party, nothing less than that, built on the rock of our proudest traditions and noblest values, but a new Conservative party.
Jenrick claims Labour just offering 'managed decline'
Jenrick carries on the attack on Labour.
Where’s the vision, where’s the boldness? The country just voted for change, and all we’ve got is more managed decline.
Sir Keir Starmer will take the knee, but he will never take a stand.
He doesn’t even take a stand. He doesn’t even take a stand at the football anymore …
And what about the cabinet?
Well, Rachel Reeves, as wooden as Pinocchio, and only barely more honest.
And then we’ve got Ed Miliband, Whoever tells you the grown ups are back in charge. Look at Ed Miliband, a Wallace missing his Gromit.
And Jenrick says Labour represent a different group.
Who is Sir Keir Starmer in politics for?
Well, the last three months have shown us who: convicted criminals walking free, illegal migrants given an amnesty, well-paid train drivers given yet more money, all the while the hard-working silent majority waiting for huge tax rises, the nation’s wealth creators fleeing en masse and millions of pensioners betrayed.
Imagine, imagine friends, imagine how cowardly you have to be to rob poor pensioners just to placate your union paymasters.
Jenrick says he wants to turn Tories into 'pressure group for hard-working majority'
Jenrick descibes who he is in politics for.
I am in politics for the millions of people in our country just like [his parents], devoted citizens, good neighbors, the people who get up early in the morning to put food on the table for their families, yes, the people who start small businesses around their kitchen tables, the people for whom there is no pressure group pressing their case, no lobby demanding their so called rights.
So let me tell you, if I am your leader, the pressure group for Britain’s hard working majority will be us, the Conservative party.
Jenrick praises his 'heroine' Thatcher
Robert Jenrick starts by saying it is “good to be back”. He is a Midlands man, and he grew up in Wolverhampton.
He says 50 years ago his parents came to Birmingham. His dad got a job at an iron foundary.
It has made the cannon for Wellington’s army, he says.
(Referencing Napoleon as the enemy is very Brexit.)
He says the Tories decided to change in 1974. They chose to change their leadership.
(Er – the leadership election that Margaret Thatcher won was actually in 1975.)
He says the Tories reversed Britain’s decline under Thatcher. He says she is one of his heroines.
Robert Jenrick speaks to Tory conference
They are now showing a video about Robert Jenrick.
It starts with footage featuring Boris Johnson and Liz Truss quite prominently (quite a bold move). It is a reminder of Brexit.
And it ends showing Jenrick talking to a voter who says he will return to the party if Jenrick is leader.
Cleverly says Tories 'have no right to govern' but 'govern where we get it right'
Cleverly is now on his peroration.
So it’s in our hands, yours and mine, to turn this around, and we can because the facts of life, the simple desire to aspire and achieve, to provide safety and security for your family, to own a home, to build a life and give your children a better tomorrow than today – these are conservative facts.
We may have lost our way, but it’s time to get back on track, because history shows that while we have no right to govern, we govern where we get it right.
So let’s unite. Let’s rebuild this party of ours.
Cleverly claims he is candidate Labour, Lib Dems and Reform UK 'fear the most'
Cleverly says he is running, not because he wants to be someone, but because he wants to do something.
So if you want a winner, choose one, choose someone who can deliver results, who can communicate effectively and who campaigns relentlessly.
Choose someone who you know and who is tested and who doesn’t hide from the media.
Choose someone who is not afraid of the public, but is popular with the public, and choose the candidate who Starmer, Farage and Davey fear the most, because I will not accept the status quo.
I will not accept defeatism, and I will not accept defeat.
'Now is not the time for an apprentice', says Cleverly
Cleverly also talks about his time as home secretary, saying again he introduced controls that brought down immigration.
Because leadership is about things like making the tough decisions when you get that ugly phone call in the middle of the night about keeping this country safe, because I’ve been there, because I know in detail what the government should be doing right now. I know in detail how they’re failing.
Now is not the time for an apprentice.
There is an echo of Gordon Brown “now is not the time for a novice” speech to the Labour conference in 2008 (a jibe at both David Cameron and David Miliband).
Cleverly stresses his experience, saying as foreign secretary he took tough stance against Russia and China
Cleverly is now talking about his record as foreign secretary.
We need to choose someone to lead us who has already done their apprenticeship to get this party winning again.
As foreign secretary, I strengthened our posture on Iran. I dealt with Putin’s nuclear threats. I worked with Ben Wallace to get tanks delivered to Ukraine.
And in Beijing, I told the Chinese foreign minister to his face, do not invade Taiwan and lift the sanctions.
And I told him directly to lift the sanctions on my parliamentary friends, even those who have decided to run against me.
Cleverly says his support for Israel is “unwavering”.
And he says he wants to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP.
Cleverly says he will revive the party’s campaigning machine.
And he says there will be “no more stitch-ups” in candidate selections.
Cleverly tells Tories they have to be 'for stuff' - because that is how they have always succeeded
Cleverly is now talking about what the Conservatives should do.
Conference, how are we going to face the great challenges of our time?
The way we always have done when we succeed – by being for stuff.
British science and engineering shaped the modern world. We are the country that gave the world the vaccine, twice, the steam engine, the light bulb, the World Wide Web, the bicycle, the tank, the people who split the atom. We need more …
We need to build more homes so that we can build a new generation of optimism in the tradition of Macmillan and Thatcher, we need to cut the cost of childcare so people can build a family. We need to cut red tape so we can build the energy and the transport infrastructure we need, but do so more cheaply and more quickly.
We need to build, build, build and remake the argument for Conservatism for capitalism by our actions, not just our words.
Cleverly rules out pact with Reform UK
Cleverly rules out a pact with Reform UK.
Reform didn’t deliver Brexit, we did.
Reform didn’t cut immigration, I did.
Mark my words, we will beat Reform by being the best version of our sales, not a pale version of anyone else.
So no mergers, no deals.
Cleverly recalls Conservative achievements, running from the abolition of the slave trade to equal marriage and Brexit.
Don’t let anyone trash our record. Be proud of our record.
And compare that with what we saw at the Labour Party conference just last week, a party drunk on power who lied to the British people, glasses for passes, favors for friends, swamped in scandal, and even worse, inflation busting pay rises to their union paymasters taken straight out of the pockets of British pensioners.
And what did Keir Starmer say just last week? He wants the state to have more control over your lives, a nanny state, closing pubs early, banning smoking outdoors and even trying to control the price of Oasis tickets.
He also has a good joke about the Lib Dems.
And we know the Lib Dems won’t do it. They’re too wet – and in the case of Ed Davey soaking wet.
Cleverly says his political hero is Ronald Reagan, because of his optimism.
Let’s be more like Reagan. Let’s be enthusiastic, relatable, positive, optimistic. Let’s be more normal …
Let’s sell the benefits of conservatism with a smile.
Cleverly seems to be referencing the decision of UK Democrats to describe Trump as “weird”. There is a slight suggestion that some of opponents are a bit too harsh or extreme too.
Cleverly says he knows what it's like to suffer setbacks in life
Cleverly says, like his parents, he is optimistic.
His life hasn’t been straightforward, he says
I grew up a mixed race kid in Lewisham now at 19.
I joined the regular army, but I got injured and I had to drop out, so I joined the Reserves and served for over 30 years in the Royal Artillery, finishing as a lieutenant colonel.
Now, I don’t pretend to be a war hero, but I did command a battery in Bristol of 100 soldiers, and one day I got the call. I got mobilized.
I thought I was going to Basra or Baghdad - and I was sent to Luton.
He says he worked in publishing for a decade, but lost his job. He set up a small business, but after the crash the made no money.
So I know what it is like to take risks, to run a small business, to work crazy hours, to put food on the table. I know what it’s like to stumble and to fall and to get up again and again and again.
Cleverly says he did not plan to run for leader.
He could have spent more time with his family, and his warhammer figures (his hobby).
But I went into politics to get things done, not watch from the sidelines, and all the more so after the defeat that we’ve just had, I need to do this for the party that I love.
Cleverly recalls his mother, who came to the UK from Sierra Leone. She did not live to become an MP, he says.
Some people love to talk our country down. But this country has given so much to so many people, including my family. Now, both my parents were in the business of optimism.
And he mentions his wife, Suzy, saying she has had treatment for cancer. Her life was saved, he says. He thanks the NHS.
Cleverly starts with apology to Tory members on behalf of MPs, saying they 'let you down'
James Cleverly starts by asking what the purpose of the party is.
They are in opposition. But their purpose is to be in power.
We’re in politics to serve the British people and to make their lives better. It’s not our right, but it is our mission, our duty and intent.
They need to get back on track, he says.
But before we can do that, there’s something we need to say.
Sorry. Sorry on behalf of the Conservative parliamentary party who let you down.
And we have to be better, much better. And under my leadership, we will be.
James Cleverly speaks to Tory conference
They are now showing a video about James Cleverly.
It features many members and supporters speaking, including Grant Shapps and Ruth Davidson.
They stress Cleverly’s credentials as someone who can unite the party.
Tugendhat is off the stage, and the podium is coming back on.
Tugendhat suggests his rivals are managers, while he is a leader
Tugendhat turns to his opponents.
My opponents claim that they’ve got more management experience around the cabinet table. Sure, that’s true, but I’m not here to manage. I’m here to lead.
The party needs change, he says. He claims he is the only person who can deliver that.
He ends:
That’s the change only I will bring.
Our mission is the prosperity and happiness of the British people and we start today.
There is enthusiastic applause.
Tugendhat says they have to give young people a chance.
We need to give young people the chance to own a home, connect that home to work and that work to growth. That’s our route back.
That’s how we win again, by remembering that Conservative principles start with a family and build to the nation, by remembering that Conservative economics help you control your own life and your own wealth, by remembering that Conservative delivery starts with a patient, and the pupil, not the faceless bureaucrat.
He says, when the Tories deliver on these three things, they win converts.
The party must win, not in 10 years or 15, but in five.
Tugendhat says he is proud of the role the armed forces played last night helping to defend Israel.
Tugendhat turns to energy security. He says Britain needs more nuclear power stations, “so we are never dependent on tyrants”.
The lesson from Germany is stark. They bet on cheap Russian energy, on fast Chinese growth, and they left their borders open.
Now none of those bets have paid off. Dictators are dictating the terms of trade once more, and that’s why we need to stand with our allies.
Tugendhat says he will curb immigration, not just with cap, but by training British workers to fill job vacancies
Tugendhat is getting more stuck into policy.
The UK has had too little growth, he says.
We can only fix the problem if we diagnose the cause, and it starts, as every Conservative knows, with our economy, real growth, not the illusion of growth that has boosted been boosted by migration and has barely shifted in the past 30 years. Now that’s left us poorer and more vulnerable.
We need a new Conservative revolution. That’s what Margaret Thatcher did.
Tugendhat says he would set a 100,000 cap on net migration.
But a cap on its own wont’ work, he says. He goes on:
This is about visas, not about foreign courts.
Let me tell you something that my opponents probably won’t this isn’t simple.
We issued the visas because businesses need the staff for our care homes and our hospitals to look after our families.
So how do we square this circle where we need to fix migration by fixing the gaps in education and skills in transport and in housing so that we can recruit at home and not abroad?
Well, we need to fix migration by fixing the gaps in education and skills in transport and in housing so that we can recruit at home and not abroad.
Now I will end the cap on apprenticeships and use the immigration skills charge to invest in further education and train our own people.
Tugendhat says higher wages are needed too.
We need higher wages, and for that, businesses need to be able to grow faster with a fantastic, skilled and healthy workforce and less regulation holding them back.
Tugendhat says he will rebuild CCHQ.
I will turn us back into being the campaign winning machine that you know we can be. My plan is to rebuild the Conservative party and to make you proud again. My mission is to win the next general election, and I have never failed a mission yet.
Tugendhat says Labour 'most venal and vindictive administration in decades'
Tugendhat jokes about the Labour donations controversy.
You can’t afford Labour. I can’t afford Labour. Lord Alli can’t afford Labour.
And he attacks Labour on policy.
They are the most venal and vindictive administration in decades.
Starmer isn’t just making pensioners pay for his union paymasters. He’s undermining freedom of speech in our universities. He’s trashing our border security instead of keeping us safe. He wants to police smoking in beer gardens. He’s freeing criminals, not standing up for the police.
Now, I know what it’s like when a Labour government doesn’t have your back. The last Labour government left our troops without body armor in Iraq and without helicopters in Afghanistan.
As your prime minister, I will never abandon those on the front line,
Updated
Tugendhat says he won’t offer empty promises.
Leadership is not about empty promises. It’s not about cheap rhetoric or government by management consultancy. It’s not about managing decline, and it’s not about talking our country down. Leadership is about making choices that serve our country and our people best.
He accuses Labour of talking the country down, and stresses his pride in Britain.
And he signals that he would seek to win back voters from all sides.
If you went to Reform, I want to show you the conservative values that we share.
If you went to the Lib Dems, I want you to see the opportunities that only we can deliver.
If you went to Labour I want to show you why freedom, not state control, is how we build.
If you stayed at home, I want to make you proud to vote Conservative again.
Tugendhat stresses his leadership credentials as former soldier
Tugendhat says he has had enough of the “petty point-scoring and self service” at Westminster.
He is offering leadership, he says.
He says he knows what leadership is from his time in the military.
I was a soldier, I served our country and I faced our enemies. I know what leadership demands.
When everything else has been cut away and there’s nothing left, character is what remains.
In Afghanistan and in Iraq. I served in combat alongside the best, and I’ve seen friends push themselves beyond their limits, and some made the ultimate sacrifice.
When it was hard, when it was tough, we kept going, even after we were knocked down and thought it was over.
I know what drove them, and I know what drove me. It’s leadership, and our country is crying out for leadership.
Updated
Tugendhat starts with optimistic note, saying Tories can win again
Tugendhat arrives.
He starts “Good morning conference”. When there is no response, he asks them to try again (which is a bit panto).
The election was bruising. But the conference has made him optimistic, he says.
Four days here with all of you has helped turn my anger and my disappointment into optimism. I can feel the energy, I can feel the determination. I can feel the hope you, the beating heart of our party …
I know we can, and we will rebuild this party. I know we can and we will reconnect with the British people. I know we can, and we will restore trust. And if we do that, we can and we will win again.
Tom Tugendhat speaks to Tory conference
They are now showing a video about Tom Tugendhat. It stresses his military record.
Andrew has finished, and the podium is being removed.
There is just a small stand on stage, with a glass of water.
Most of the candidates are planning to speak without a text or autocue. They have been learning their speeches – keen to emulate David Cameron, whose no-notes speech in 2005 gave him a breakthrough in the leadership contest.
Andrew says he needs help. They have to put the years of division behind them, he says.
We have all got to get behind whoever wins.
We are the most successful political party in the world for a reason, because our forebears, as custodians of our party, have come together when their backs were against the wall to build back when they have fallen short.
Andrew recalls growing up in a council home in Wales.
It was this party that showed that same teenager that families on his estate could become homeowners for the first time. It was this party that gave that teenager’s dad the chance to set up his own small business, ending long periods of unemployment. It was this party that said to that teenager, it didn’t matter that he didn’t go to university, as he could still fulfill his dreams and aspirations. rations.
So what did the Conservative party offer to that working class kid from Wales? It gave him the privilege and the honour to serve as your chief whip.
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Back in the hall, Andrew is talking about Labour. Keir Starmer “definitely doesn’t go to Specsavers,” he says.
You would think that the son of a toolmaker would do a better job of putting his own wardrobe together.
Andrew talks about House of Cards, and how in that drama the chief whip ended up as party leader, by eliminating all the candidates. Is it coincidence he is here now? “You may well think that, but I couldn’t possible comment,” he jokes.
He says he is appealling to members for help. The party lost “brilliant” MPs at the election, he says.
But the party is not done, he says.
Stuart Andrew, the chief whip, is speaking now.
He says he will talk about what the party is doing in parliament.
Referring to the “horrific scenes in Israel”, he says the party will work with the government to support Israel, because that is in the national interest.
Richard Fuller, the Tory chair, is on the conference platform now introducing the morning session.
He starts with thanks to various people who have helped with the conference.
Yesterday Robert Jenrick’s team said Jenrick was worried about losing his voice, and they concerns about how well he would be able to project today. This helps to explain a nice joke at the start of this conference upsum by Giles Dilnot, the ConservativeHome editor.
After a frenetic Conference for Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat and Robert Jenrick the tiredness will be kicking in, but also for the teams of advisers who want, and maybe need, their principal to take another go at delivering the twenty-minute speech of their career.
It’s a four hoarse race.
As for who has done best out of the conference so far, Dilnot says there has not (so far?) been a breakthrough moment for anyone.
The problem for the party, and for me, is that none of this gossipy chatter has taken the conference attendees much further forward – nor has any of the four taken conference by storm.
Badenoch dodges questions on how she would block migrants who don't 'love' UK, saying it's wrong to make policy now
In an article for the Sunday Telegraph published at the weekend, Kemi Badenoch said that people should be committed to the UK, they should “love this country”, if they want to settle here as immigrants. She also implied people who “hate Israel” should be excluded.
On the Today programme this morning Mishal Husain, interviewing Badenoch, tried to get her to explain how a Badenoch government could actually enforce an immigration policy based on these principles. She did not much much luck.
Asked if policy might depend on country of origin (banning or restricting people from certain countries?) or a test on arrival (only admitting people who pass?), Badenoch said it could be “all of those things”. But she repeatedly said she was not proposing policy now, because at this point what mattered were the principles behind her stance. “Of course I don’t have the strategy,” she said.
Badenoch also argued that setting out policy now was counterproductive. In comments that were implicitly critical of her rivals, who have been much happier announcing policy, she said:
The leadership contest is now, and what we are testing is principles and character, not the detail of policy solutions. That will come later.
And the more we start talking about policy before deciding on what we agree on, the more likely we are to start having arguments after the fact. That is what I want to change.
People ask me how we unite the party. It’s by starting with principles, with the mission and direction.
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According to Dan Bloom in his London Playbook briefing for Politico, Tories at conference think Kemi Badenoch’s outspoken interventions at the conference have backfired for her. He says:
The conference is awash with talk from some senior Tories that Kemi Badenoch’s blunt comments on maternity pay, minimum wage and the like damaged her standing with MPs, who hold knockout rounds next week. One former minister who backs a rival tells Playbook: “She fucked up on day one.” A senior Tory accuses her of “gaslighting” MPs by blaming the media for over-interpreting her. A backer of another rival adds: “Every time she opens her mouth it gets worse for her … The longer the contest the better it is for everyone else.”
In a conference write-through for Bloomberg, Alex Wickham, Ailbhe Rea and Lucy White says much the same.
Badenoch’s pugnacious style and willingness to get drawn into controversies may have put off some MPs worried about how she’d behave under the glare of leadership, one lawmaker said. Another described her campaign as blowing up over the remarks. A third said Badenoch needed a good week to cement her position among MPs, concluding that hadn’t happened.
The four leadership candidates will not be appearing on the stage together at the conference this morning, it has emerged. Relations between them have been strained; despite the “yellow card” rule supposed to stop personal attacks, most of them have found ways of slyly disparaging their opponents, and there are suggestions they were not all willing to stand alongside each other for a jolly team photograph. But we are expected to see them in the hall together at the end, when members wrap up the conference by singing the national anthem.
Tugendhat criticises Jenrick for including soldier he knew, who's now dead and can't defend himself, in controversial video
Tom Tugendhat said it is “upsetting” that his Conservative leadership rival Robert Jenrick used footage of a soldier Tugenhdat served with in Afghanistan to claim UK special forces were “killing rather than capturing” terrorists.
Jenrick has been widely-criticised for the campaign video in which he claimed special forces were acting like this through fear of detainees being released under European human rights law.
Tugendhat said one of the soldiers featured in Jenrick’s video died shortly after the video was taken, and is therefore unable to defend himself from such accusations.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Tugendhat said:
What’s particularly upsetting is that video is using a piece of footage of some of the people I served with, one of whom there died shortly after that film was taken in an accident, and is not able to defend himself from the accusation that is effectively being levelled against him.
I do not think we should be using footage of our special forces in operations.
I would not put that video out. In fact I’d pull it down.
"So that is actually footage of somebody you knew?"
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) October 1, 2024
"Yes."
Conservative leadership contender Tom Tugendhat reveals he knew one of the Special Forces soldiers who was used in a video released by leadership rival Robert Jenrick.#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/Wy5o6cQnjC
Cleverly defends calling for abolition of stamp duty on homes
James Cleverly has defended his call for the Tories to commit to abolishing stamp duty on homes
In an interview with the Today programme, when it was put to him that this would cost around £10bn, he replied:
At the last general election, my party – the Conservative party – was being criticised by the Labour party for taxing too much.
If we don’t start cutting taxes, we stifle the economy and we will ultimately not be able to thrive as a country.
When Mishal Husain, the presenter, suggested that this was reminiscent of what Liz Truss was doing in her mini-budget, Cleverly replied:
Your argument is because one of my predecessors proposed it, we can never propose it?
This is why we have now got the highest tax burden since the war. Higher than many of our international competitors and high enough that the Labour party felt liberated to criticise us.
Farage dismisses Tory calls for pact with Reform UK, saying he wants to 'replace' Conservatives not collaborate
Some Tories at the conference have been calling for closer links with Reform UK.
In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, insisted he was not interested. He said:
There would be no deal with them, I wouldn’t trust them anyway, they have a pattern of behaviour pretending to be one thing and then when they’re in government being quite the opposite.
And, frankly, what I’m trying to do with Reform is replace them.
Farage also said he thought the Tories had no chance of winning the next election.
They all think with a new leader ‘it’ll all be fine, all the voters will come back to us’, and what they don’t understand is the Conservative brand is completely damaged, they have no chance of winning the next election.
Asked if he was proud of having helped to deliver Brexit, Farage said:
Do I think getting back our independence was the right thing to do? You bet your life.
Do I think we’ve handled it well? Good Lord, no.
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New Conservatives, party of wealth creation, or politics 'with a smile' - Tory leadership candidates to set out rival visions
Good morning. There are plenty of more important things in politics than who becomes the next Conservative leader – two thirds of voters don’t even care, according to Ipsos polling, including almost a third of people who backed the party at the election – but if you are interested in the outcome, today is the most important day in the contest so far. Over the past century most people elected Conservative leader have also been prime minister at some point, so it is normally a consequential choice.
Although the four-day conference has, in effect, been a long husting, this morning we’re getting the key face-off. All four candidates are delivering a 20-minute speech in the conference hall. A platform speech to a big audience is always a challenge, but the candidates face two particular difficulties this morning.
First, they are going to have to say something new (no one is impressed by a speech they have heard before) even though they have spent the last three days constanly using their best soundbites, arguments, jokes and talking points. That won’t be easy.
And, second, they have to make a pitch to two separate audiences. Conservative party members will have the final say. But next week the 121 Conservative MPs will vote in two more ballots will eliminate two candidates, before ballot papers with just two names go out to members. And the views and priorities of members and MPs are not wholly aligned; MPs tend to have a more acute sense of what will help them stay elected.
The four candidates have briefed out lines from what they plan to say, and here is snapshot.
Robert Jenrick, who is now the favourite, is going to talk about building a new Conservative party. According to the Telegraph, he will say:
The truth is this. If we’re to tackle the immense challenges we face, if we’re to restore the public’s trust, we must build something new.
A new Conservative party. That is what I call for today. Nothing less than a new Conservative party built on the rock of our oldest values and best traditions. If I become our leader, this is what – together – we will build.
Jenrick’s platform is very rightwing in some respects (he is the only candidate fully committed to withdrawal from the European convention on human rights), but this is the language of Tony Blair, when he created New Labour.
Kemi Badenoch will say the Tories must be the party of “wealth creation”. She will say:
The Conservatives have to be the party of wealth creation. Wealth is not a dirty word. It supports jobs and families. It pays for our schools, for our health service. We should encourage it.
James Cleverly will strike the most optimistic note, the advance briefing suggests. He will say:
Let’s be enthusiastic; relatable; positive; optimistic.
Let’s sell the benefits of a Conservative government with a smile. We will not win back voters by pretending to be something we’re not. We win back voters by being honest, by being professional, by being Conservative.
And Tom Tugendhat will also adopt Blairite language, calling for a “New Conservative Revolution”, according to Politico’s London Playbook (which says the New is capped up in the briefing it had).
There is more on what they will say in our overnight conference story, by Jessica Elgot.
Here is the timetable for the day.
10.30am: Richard Fuller, the Conservative chair, opens the morning session, and there is also a short speech from Stuart Andrew, the chief whip. Then we get into the main event of the conference: the leadership contenders’ beauty parade, where they all deliver 20-minute speeches in the conference hall.
10.45am: Tom Tugendhat speaks.
11.10am: James Cleverly speaks.
11.35am: Robert Jenrick speaks.
Noon: Kemi Badenoch speaks.
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