Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Conservative conference - as it happened: Philip Hammond insists Theresa May's Brexit plan is not dead as he urges warring Tory MPs to stand 'foursquare behind' her

All the updates from Birmingham, as they happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Monday 01 October 2018 17:01 BST
Comments
Conservative Party Conference: Five things to watch

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Philip Hammond won applause from the Tory faithful when he urged them to stand “foursquare behind the prime minister” to rescue her Brexit plan.

The Chancellor rejected claims from both pro and anti-EU Tories that the Chequers proposals were dead, after their mauling by the EU – insisting they could still deliver an agreement.

“Mr Tusk [the European Council president] says it won’t work - but that’s what people said about the lightbulb in 1878,” he told the Conservative conference. “Our job is to prove him wrong.”

The run-up to the Birmingham conference has been dominated by infighting over Theresa May's Brexit approach, which Boris Johnson described as "deranged".

See below for live updates

Raab's got some tough words for Brussels: "Our prime minister has been constructive and respectful. In return we heard jibes from senior leaders.

"And we saw a starkly one-sided approach to negotiation, where the EU’s theological approach allows no room for serious compromise.

"And yet we are expected to cast aside the territorial integrity of our own country. If the EU want a deal, they need to get serious. And they need to do it now."

Raab dismisses "lurid predictions" about a no-deal Brexit, but says it is still a possibility.

He adds: "If the only offer from the EU threatens the integrity of our Union...Then we will be left with no choice but to leave with no deal.

That is why the whole of the government machine is busy preparing for No Deal. Not because we want it...Not because we think it’s likely...But because it might happen.

"Some people say that No Deal is unthinkable. Wrong. What is unthinkable is that this government, or any British government, could be bullied by the threat of some kind of economic embargo, into signing a one-sided deal against our country’s interests."

Lizzy Buchan1 October 2018 10:45

Dominic Raab also gets a standing ovation from delegates for a moving story about his father's Peter's escape from Czechoslovakia in 1938 after the Nazis invaded.

He says the Labour Party has been overtaken by extremists and describes the antisemitism row as a "stain on Britain".

Describing his father, he said: "That little boy grew up knowing that his grandmother, grandfather, most of his relatives…The loved ones left behind…Had been systematically murdered for no other reason than that they were Jews."

 

He added: "And I will honour his memory by fighting the scourge of antisemitism and racism until my last breath.

"Because, none of us can rest until Corbyn, McDonnell and their extremist gang have been driven back to the margins where they belong."

Lizzy Buchan1 October 2018 10:58

Labour is quick out of the blocks after Dominic Raab's speech, claiming he has no credible plan to break the Brexit deadlock.

Shadow Brexit minister Paul Blomfield said: “Dominic Raab spoke for nearly thirty minutes, but he could have saved everyone‘s time and said just three words: nothing has changed.

“The Brexit Secretary offered no credible plan to break the deadlock in negotiations, no credible plan to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland and no credible plan to protect jobs and the economy. It was a speech that offered no solutions on Brexit. 

“This week the Tories are proving once again that they cannot negotiate with themselves, let alone the EU."

Lizzy Buchan1 October 2018 11:12

Cynics might say Dominic Raab's speech was a bit of a leadership bid, as he reached out to both sides of the Brexit debate and spoke about his family.

It comes after Jeremy Hunt made an extraordinary conference speech on Sunday where he compared EU membership to the Soviet occupation.

Needless to say, European leaders are unimpressed:

Lizzy Buchan1 October 2018 11:22

Jeremy Hunt has won approval from some quarters for his speech

Lizzy Buchan1 October 2018 11:28

Lizzy Buchan1 October 2018 11:46

Esther McVey, the work and pensions secretary, made a speech earlier where she announced £39m of funding for the Citizens Advice Bureau to help universal credit claimants.

The cash will be used to fund advisers to help claimants get their first payment on time.

The rollout of universal credit has been met with major criticism, with warnings from campaign groups that it has pushed families into poverty.

Ms McVey told activists: "I have always said we will steer a new direction and work with partners to deliver vital services, and get universal credit right.

"The state cannot, and should not work in isolation and must reach out to work with independent, trusted organisations to get the best support to vulnerable people.

"This brand new partnership with Citizens Advice will ensure everyone, and in particular the most vulnerable claimants, get the best possible support with their claim that is consistently administered throughout the country."

Lizzy Buchan1 October 2018 11:55

Ms McVey also used her speech to attack a Labour grassroots group, saying: "Momentum is the modern day Militant - and remember there are three M's in Momentum - Militant, Militant, Militant.

"Can you imagine it, this country with Corbyn, McDonnell and Abbott at the helm?

"It would be a political nightmare, with Labour doing what it always does - leaving office with higher unemployment than it inherited."

Lizzy Buchan1 October 2018 11:57

Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has come on to tee up Philip Hammond's speech - who she describes as "no frills Phil".

It has gone down a storm in the press room.

Lizzy Buchan1 October 2018 12:05

Philip Hammond is up and thanks Truss for her introduction - and for tearing herself away from her Instagram account.

He jokes: "My kids think I'm tight - they haven't met Liz Truss".

He says his birthday present to the PM is a policy that appeals to both Anna Soubry (pro-EU) and Andrew Bridgen (Eurosceptic). It is Theresa May's birthday today.

Lizzy Buchan1 October 2018 12:07

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in