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
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
My colleague Ben Kentish has gone to the Conservative's for a People's Vote rally - which was not included in the official guide.
Capitalism is failing “ordinary people” who believe “the system isn’t working for them”, Philip Hammond has warned the Tory faithful.
In a landmark speech for a Tory chancellor, Mr Hammond said supporters of free-market economics had to acknowledge it no longer matched “the reality” for many British people.
“Too many people feel that they have lost control, that they are working for the system - but the system isn’t working for them,” he admitted, in language normally heard from Labour politicians.
Full story here:
Jeremy Hunt's grotesque Boris Johnson tribute act told us everything we need to know about the next Tory leadership contest, writes Tom Peck, The Independent's sketchwriter.
Read his column here:
More from the People's Vote fringe, where prominent backbencher Anna Soubry and former cabinet minister Justine Greening are addressing activists.
James Brokenshire is the first speaker up this afternoon, where he will set out the government's housing priorities.
It's been a difficult year for him, after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He says that the NHS saved his life and he offers his thanks to everyone who works in the health service.
Brokenshire says the party must face up to the "uncomfortable truth that through decades of under-investment and lack of political will for too many a home of your own is unaffordable and out of reach".
He promises to fix the "broken housing market" through housebuilding and supporting people to save for their deposits.
He announces the creation of a new watchdog to champion home buyers, the New Homes Ombudsman, which will protect their interests and hold developers to account.
On Grenfell, he confirms reports that he will ban combustible cladding on high rise buildings.
Mr Brokenshire says: "My work with Grenfell United and the wider community has been hugely helpful in keeping this issue right at the top of the government's agenda.
"And that is why today I can confirm that I will change the building regulations to ban the use of combustible materials for all new high rise residential buildings, hospitals, registered care homes and student accommodation. And bring about a change in culture on building safety."
Pro-EU MP Sarah Wollaston responds to calls from Brexiteers for an entryist campaign to oust her from her seat.
Last night, we reported the extraordinary comments from Conor Burns, a former aide to Boris Johnson, at a Brexiteer rally.
Full story here:
It's Michael Gove's turn to make a speech to activists.
He immediately quotes Winston Churchill, in a classic of the Tory speech genre.
He also issues a "message of unshakeable solidarity with the Jewish community" and fires of a stinging criticism of Labour.
Gove says: "Let us commit to unite so that the Moscow-loving, Hamas-hugging, high-taxing, moderate-bashing, job-destroying, National Anthem-avoiding, NATO-hating, class war-provoking, one-man museum of economic folly that is Jeremy Corbyn, is never let anywhere near Downing Street."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments