The race to succeed Rishi Sunak as Tory leader was thrown wide open as both frontrunners Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick had a “difficult” first day at the Conservative annual rally in Birmingham.
Former Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch sparked a row over maternity pay.
While, ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick faced questions over donations.
Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was seen by some veteran party members to have had a better day, and also to be benefiting from having a particularly well-placed stand in the conference centre.
Ex-security minister Tom Tugendhat was attracting noticeably large crowds to some of his events, including many young supporters.
Ms Badenoch was engulfed in controversy after describing maternity pay as “a function of tax”, and adding: “Tax comes from people who are working, we’re taking from one group of people and giving to another. This, in my view, is excessive.”
Later, she stressed that “of course I believe in maternity pay”.
Tory peer and pollster Lord Hayward told Times Radio: “She’s trying to clarify/row back/whatever and there is no question that she had a difficult day yesterday.”
Having sat through four hustings at the conference, he added: “I think Robert Jenrick had a difficult day with an interview on Sky where Trevor Phillips put questions to him about receiving donations from a tax haven and he couldn’t explain it.
“So, there are two that definitely had a difficult day yesterday.
“In the case of Tom (Tugendhat) and James (Cleverly) they probably had better days, A because they are not the subject of conversations but also and these are impressionistic, looking around the conference centre, I happen to pass one of Tom’s meetings and he actually had to go outside and stand on a soapbox to address the people who couldn’t get into the room.
“And James, I understand it’s the luck of the draw, but there is no question that where his stand is is the best situated.”
Ms Badenoch and Mr Tugendhat were on Monday setting out their visions on the main stage of the Tory conference and will face questions, with Mr Jenrick and Mr Cleverly due to do so on Tuesday.
But an Ipsos poll showed more Britons say Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, than any of the four Tory contenders, has what it takes to be a “good PM”.
Former prime minister Liz Truss was also due on Monday to make her headline appearance at the conference.
