UK politics live: Jenrick vows to revive Rwanda plan as Tory leadership campaign ramps up
Robert Jenrick insists ‘it’s leave or remain’ in Tory leadership speech at the Policy Exchange
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In a bid to build momentum after securing his place in the final two of the race, Robert Jenrick is delivering a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank.
Addressing the audience in London, the former immigration minister promised to talk to supporters about “the real choice our country faces” and to bring back the government’s Rwanda deportation plan.
He went back to the Brexit days, setting up a stark “leave vs remain” choice for voters on the ECHR. The Tory leadership hopeful believes the European Convention on Human Rights prevents Britain from being able to control illegal migration.
It comes as the Tory leadership race intensified after James Cleverly’s unexpected exit, leaving Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick as the final contenders.
Meanwhile, as the Labour government unveils its Employment Rights Bill, the party has denied claims that the proposed reforms could jeopardise jobs.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the bill as a landmark initiative and the “biggest upgrade in employment rights for a generation”.
However, unions have criticised the proposed legislation claiming it fails to fully protect workers, with Unite boss Sharon Graham claiming the reform would leave “more holes than Swiss cheese” for employers to exploit.
Tory civil war erupts again less than two hours after MPs pivot to the hard right
Tory MPs pivot to the right as centrist James Cleverly knocked out of leadership race
Rachel Reeves told she needs £25bn in tax rises to avoid austerity
Starmer warned EU reset plan to ‘make Brexit work’ not enough to save economy
Worker’s bill has ‘more holes than Swiss cheese’, says Unite
Unite the union has warned Angela Rayner’s Employment Rights Bill fails to fully protect workers.
General secretary Sharon Graham acknowledged the legislation is a step forward, but she insisted the reform would leave “more holes than Swiss cheese” for employers to exploit.
Ms Graham commended some provisions, such as ending Minimum Service Levels and introducing individual rights like bereavement leave.
However, she pointed out that the bill still falls short of its promises, especially in tackling fire-and-rehire practices and zero-hours contracts.
She added: “The Bill also fails to give workers the sort of meaningful rights to access to a union for pay bargaining that would put more money in their pockets and, in turn, would aid growth.
“Unite will continue to make the workers’ voice heard as we push for improvements to the legislation as the Bill goes through parliament.”
Angela Rayner: Tories ‘clueless’ over workers’ rights opposition
Angela Rayner has accused the Conservative Party of being “out of step with modern Britain” for opposing Labour’s Employment Rights Bill.
In a tweet, she promised the bill will bring the “biggest upgrade to rights at work in a generation”.
Speaking at the Commons yesterday, the deputy prime minister said Labour’s proposals aim to transform workers’ protections.
In a scathing critique of the Tories, Ms Rayner linked their current stance to historical opposition, reminding them how their party initially resisted the introduction of the minimum wage in 1998.
She wrote on social media: “We know the out of touch Tories will oppose this every step of the way. Just like they opposed Labour’s minimum wage, and now - shamefully - want to take us back to the dark ages, when women were denied maternity pay.
“But it’s clear they are out of step with modern Britain.”
Tory former Brexit minister endorses Kemi Badenoch
Former Brexit minister Steve Baker has thrown his support behind Kemi Badenoch in the final round of the Conservative leadership contest against Robert Jenrick.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Baker, who lost his seat in the general election, praised Ms Badenoch’s “authenticity” and commitment to conservative values.
He said: “I shall vote for Kemi and with a good heart too, because she’s authentic and she’s got a ferocious passion for what she believes.”
He also criticised his own party for “lacking an intellectual keel” in recent years, suggesting the Conservatives had lost its ideological direction by following the public opinion rather than shaping it.
“Kemi truly believes in conservative ideas, and she argues for them with great passion. And it’s that authenticity which for me tells me it should be Kemi,” he added.
Boris Johnson hints at return to front-line politics
Boris Johnson has hinted he may return to the political spotlight, describing the relentless nature of effective politicians as having a “cockroach-like” survival instinct.
In an interview with Times Radio, the former prime minister left open the door to a future role in public life, suggesting that his time in politics might not be over.
When asked if he saw a potential comeback, the former prime minister referenced the late Queen’s advice, claiming: “You should only do things you think can be useful.”
Pressed further on whether he still considered himself useful, Mr Johnson carefully avoided ruling anything out, adding: “I’m not saying that.”
He went on: “For politicians to be effective, they must be like wasps in a jam jar. They’ve got to want continually, cockroach-like to survive and to continue.
“That’s not necessarily a despicable thing from the point of view of the electorate because we all need people who really, really want to do their best for us.”
Policing costs for Taylor Swift’s London concerts revealed
The cost pf policing Taylor Swift’s concerts in London saw a significant increase over the summer, largely due to heightened security concerns following a failed terror plot in Europe.
Reports suggest that senior political figures, including home secretary Yvette Cooper, pushed for enhanced measures. She attended one of the August concerts without charge, further drawing attention to the scale of state resources allocated, Sky News reports.
The June concerts required 332 police officers and cost £206,557. Organisers reimbursed £79,140.08.
After the terror threat emerged, August’s security costs surged to nearly £500,000, involving 881 police officers. The organisers reimbursed £172,157.52.
Overall, £704,948.05 was spent on security for the popstar’s concerts, with organisers covering £251,297.60 of that sum. Across the two concert dates, a total of 1,143 officers were deployed.
ICYMI: Tory MPs pivot to the right as centrist Cleverly knocked out
Conservative MPs stunned Westminster by pivoting to the right and ditching centrist candidate James Cleverly in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak.
In a shock result, the former home secretary was knocked out of the contest on Wednesday afternoon, leaving Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch – both candidates favoured by the right of the party – to face a vote of the membership.
You can read the full story below:
Tory MPs pivot to the right as centrist Cleverly knocked out of leadership race
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch - both candidates favoured by the right of the party - will face a vote of the membership this month
Good morning
Welcome back to the politics live blog.
It’s a busy day in Westminster, with a mix of international diplomacy, domestic fiscal challenges and political manoeuvring at play.
- First on the agenda, Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street, who is in a European tour to rally more support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
- The prime minister will also meet Nato’s new general secretary Mark Rutte.
- Meanwhile, the economic outlook is looking tense. A report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies warned that £25 billion in tax rises may be necessary to sustain the government’s spending plans.
- With the budget looming on 30 October, chancellor Rachel Reeves faces a tricky task of balancing fiscal responsibility with public reluctance towards tax hikes or spending cuts.
- In the Tory leadership contest, James Cleverly’s surprising exit has shocked many. A ‘failed’ tactical voting effort left Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch as the last contenders.
- Elsewhere, home secretary Yvette Cooper is facing scrutiny after pushing for enhanced security for Taylor Swift before attending one of her concerts.
Zelensky to visit Downing Street as he seeks more support from Europe
Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Downing Street on Thursday as he tours European nations seeking support for Ukraine’s resistance against Russia.
The Ukrainian president will meet Sir Keir Starmer and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, with the Prime Minister expected to underline the UK’s commitment to the defence of Ukraine.
The visit will be Mr Zelensky’s second trip to Number 10 since Sir Keir came to power after he addressed an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet in July.
What supporters of each side are saying in leadership race
In an exchange in a BBC Radio interview less than two hours after Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick, South Holland and The Deeping MP Sir John said: “Robert has a much broader experience of government than Kemi. He is appealing and can unite the party. We don’t need an irascible leadership. We want a leadership that is emollient but principled.”
When Droitwich and Evesham MP Mr Huddleston was asked to respond to the suggestion that Ms Badenoch is “irascible”, he said: “Kemi can connect with lots of people. Her message is very different from the others. She starts from first principles and values that will unite all Conservatives. Other candidates have gone out there with very deep dive specific policies.”
Tory civil war erupts again
The Tory civil war has erupted again after MPs decided to make the leadership final the most right-wing in the party’s history.
Less than two hours after hard-right candidates Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick made it to the last round of the Tory leadership contest, the camps started attacking each other.
Jenrick cheerleader Tory MP Sir John Hayes took a sideswipe at Ms Badenoch, saying the Conservatives do not want an “irascible leadership” – a thinly veiled reference to claims that she is “abrasive” at times.
Tory civil war erupts again less than two hours after MPs pivot to the hard right
Supporters of Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch have already launched scathing attacks on each other
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