UK politics live: ‘Pathetic’ to blame economic meltdown on me, Liz Truss tells Tory conference
Former PM Liz Truss dismissed claims that her mini-budget was to blame for the disastrous state of the economy
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Liz Truss has told the Conservative Party conference that it is “pathetic” to claim she is to blame for the economic meltdown follwoing her mini-budget.
During a fringe event, the unrepentant former prime minister dismissed Theresa May’s claim that she destroyed the party’s reputation after her economic policies.
She also lashed out at the four Tory MPs vying to replace Rishi Sunak as the party’s leader, claiming she will not endorse any of the candidates.
But she agreed with Kemi Badenoch’s controversial comments about maternity pay being “excessive”, and revealed she would be “really happy” with Robert Jenrick‘s suggestion to have the Star of David at UK borders.
It comes after Mr Jenrick described illegal migrants as “terrorists on our streets terrorising our citizens” during a rally at the conference.
During his speech, the former minister said the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is a “leave or die” issue for the Tories and urged to exit the convention.
Mr Jenrick also called for the Star of David to be displayed at every point of entry to the UK to show “we stand with Israel” while wearing a “Hamas Are Terrorists” hoodie at a Conservative Friends of Israel fringe event.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
Tugendhat and Badenoch face questions from Tory members on conference main stage
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Tory Party conference: John Rentoul answers your questions – from the next leader to winning back voters
The UK is in desperate need of an effective opposition
Robert Jenrick would leave ECHR ‘without a referendum'
Robert Jenrick has said he wants to “get migration done” so that politicians can talk about other issues.
The former immigration minister told reporters after a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference that if he were Tory leader and the party came back to government, he would leave the ECHR as soon as possible without a referendum.
The leadership hopeful said he did not accept that his stance on leaving the ECHR would split his party.
Mr Jenrick is advocating for a cap on legal migration in the tens of thousands or fewer and for a stronger version of the Rwanda policy.
He added: “If we have that cap, then we can stop talking about migration. I want to get migration done. This is a running sword in British politics.
“It’s important that we settle this by having serious answers to these challenges. Then we can talk about all the other issues that the public wants us to be discussing, like the economy and the NHS.”
Jenrick says Conservatives have gone ‘backwards’ in number of women MPs
Robert Jenrick has warned that it is a “mark of shame on the party that we have gone backwards” in the number of female MPs in the Tory party, Millie Cooke reports from the conference.
Speaking at a Conservative Women’s Organisation event on the fringes of the Tory conference in Birmingham, Mr Jenrick said the challenges of becoming an MP are “more impactful on a mum with kids than it is for many dads”.
He added: “If we’re going to get more women selected, the party has to be very considerate of that, by listening to candidates about what we can do to support you on that journey.”
Hunt: Labour’s economy narrative could put businesses off from investing
Jeremy Hunt said he was concerned that Labour’s messaging on the economy could put people and businesses off from investing in British firms.
The shadow chancellor said: “My worry is that Labour believes its own propaganda and starts taking a whole series of decisions, particularly on things like Capital Gains Tax, which have a massive impact on deterring the investment in the economy that we really need.”
He added: “Even the Labour Party don’t believe it, otherwise we wouldn’t be having this massive row over the winter fuel allowance.”
Speaking on the main stage of the Conservative Party conference, he later said: “When it comes to the big decisions, we need to secure our economic growth, I think people are beginning to wonder whether Labour actually has a plan at all, because we’ve had absolutely nothing in the 12 weeks that they’ve been in office.”
Jenrick says Tories should take inspiration from Conservatives in Canada
Robert Jenrick has urged the Tories to take inspiration from the recovery of the Conservatives in Canada to regain voters at the next general election.
He told the conference: “And I want to do that. And I take a lot of inspiration from our sister party in Canada, and just before the election was called, I went to meet them, and there you see a party which does not resile from traditional conservative values.
“They campaign on virtually the same issues that I do, immigration, lower taxes, building homes for young people, crime – we would probably add in the NHS – but similar issues.
“But through great social media, really good communication, they’re able to explain them to a broad audience of people, including younger people, and they are now beating super woke Justin Trudeau with the 20-somethings, the 30-somethings, the 40-somethings, and appear to be on the cusp of winning an election.”
Robert Jenrick speaks at Conservative Women’s Organisation fringe event
The Tory leadership hopeful has said that the Conservative Women’s Organisation (CWO) is the world’s oldest female political organisation linked to a party.
He told the conference that he refuses to talk about men’s issues and women’s issues, but acknowledged that there are things the Tories should do to appeal to women.
Mr Jenrick also criticised Rishi Sunak’s approach on migration and the his administration’s plan of lowering taxes.
What’s happening at Tory conference today?
At the main hall:
- Member debate: Free speech
- 9.50am Member debate: Immigration
- Member debate: Building homes
- Member debate: Growing the economy
- 2pm In conversation with Tom Tugendhat + Q&A
- THEN In conversation with Kemi Badenoch + Q&A
Fringe events:
- 11am The Daily T live with Graham Brady
- 12pm James Cleverly at the Conservative Policy Forum Hustings
- 12.30pm Liz Truss in conversation with Tim Stanley
- 2pm Pop Conversation with Robert Jenrick
- 3pm Onward in conversation with James Cleverly
- 8.30pm The social justice hustings with all four leadership candidates
Pictured: James Cleverly tries vision impairment eyewear
Tory Party conference: John Rentoul answers your questions
With a leadership contest looming and the Conservatives facing tough decisions on the party’s strategy, join John Rentoul, The Independent’s chief political commentator, for a live Q&A.
The party is facing tough decisions on its strategy, as well as internal debates about its identity and priorities. He will be answering your questions on the Conservative Party’s future, the challenges it faces, and the key figures shaping its direction.
If you have a question for John, submit it here.
Hunt urges Tories to win back young voters
Asked about the biggest challenge the Conservatives face as a party, Jeremy Hunt said the Tories need to win back young voters.
Duirng his Q&A at the party conference, he said: “Our biggest strategic challenge is the fact that the average age above which you are more likely to vote Conservative than Labour is now over 60.
“If we are the party of aspiration, we have to have a message for 30-somethings, 40-somethings, starting out on their life, who are prepared to work hard, who are conservatives to their fingertips, in their values, in the way they lead their lives, in their belief in all the things that all of us believe in.
“We have to have a message that appeals to them.
“So I would say, as we rebuild our trust with the British people, a litmus test of whether we are on track is whether we are starting to do things that rebuild confidence, trust and excitement amongst those generations, because they’re not just the future of the country, they’re the future of our party as well.”
Jenrick: UK facing ‘leave or remain choice’ on ECHR
Robert Jenrick has said that the UK is facing a “leave or remain choice” on the ECHR, our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports from the conference.
The ECHR is a “leave or die” issue for the Tories, Robert Jenrick told a rally at the Conservative Party conference.
“This is more than just ‘leave or amend’: frankly, our party doesn’t have a future unless we take a stand and fix this problem.
“It’s leave or die for our party – I’m for leave,” the Tory leadership candidate said.
He called for the party conference to become the “crucible of conservatism”.
“Let’s use this opportunity to settle this issue once and for all, and for our party to have the answer to one of the biggest challenges facing our country.
“Let’s leave the ECHR and let’s get this done.”
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