UK politics live: Cleverly defends plan to revive Truss policy as Tory leadership hopefuls make final pitches
Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly vows to axe stamp duty ahead of final conference speech
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James Cleverly has pledged to abolish stamp duty on homes purchases for first-time buyers in order to help the economy “thrive”.
The Tory leadership contender vowed to bring the policy advocated by former PM Liz Truss if he wins the contest. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the stamp duty “stagnates the market”.
His promise comes as Conservative leadership rivals prepare for their final chance to address the party’s conference in their race to be Rishi Sunak’s successor.
The party’s future and the economy will be among the topics touched on when Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat and Mr Cleverly address delegates.
The final session comes as Mr Jenrick sparked criticism for using footage of a soldier in Afghanistan who died after the film was taken claiming that UK special forces are “killing rather than capturing terrorists”.
Tory rival Mr Tugendhat said using a video of his dead friend was “upsetting” and branded the remarks by the former immigration minister “just not true”.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to open the door for the European youth mobility scheme ahead of his bilateral meeting with Ursula von der Leyen during his visit to Brussels today.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
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EU pushes Starmer to open door to youth mobility scheme
Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to open the door for the European youth mobility scheme during his visit to Brussels today.
The prime minister will hold a bilateral meeting with president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
He aims to reset Britain’s relationship with the European Union but is facing early demands from leaders on migration, fishing and youth mobility.
Sources close to his senior negotiator - european affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds - say he is unwilling to agree to a youth mobility scheme too quickly and will want to use the EU’s enthusiasm for the project as a negotiating chip.
Such demands for concessions by the EU leades are likely to be raised this week before detailed negotiations later this year.
Starmer travels to Brussels for EU talks
Keir Starmer kicks off his bid to reset Britain’s relationship with the European Union on Wednesday morning - but is facing early demands from leaders on migration, fishing and youth mobility.
The prime minister wants to tackle defence and security, crime and immigration, and then trade under a “three pillar” strategy for the crunch talks with EU leaders in Brussels, as revealed by The Independent last week.
But Sir Keir will also arrive in Belgium under growing pressure to agree to a youth mobility scheme to allow under-30s to travel more freely between Britain and the EU.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story below:
Starmer facing EU demands on youth mobility as he begins Brexit reset talks
The prime minister is set to start his EU reset in ernest on Wednesday - but is facing pressure on the youth mobility scheme
Watch: Cleverly cups and Tugendhat fake tan: The Tory party conference’s most popular merchandise
Cleverly cups and Tugendhat fake tan: The Tory party conference’s most popular merch
From James Cleverly cups and Kemi Badenoch cola bottles, to Tom Tugendhat fake tan and Robert Jenrick baseball hats. These are just some of the Conservative leadership candidate’s merchandise available at the party conference in Birmingham. The Independent took a closer look at the products on offer from the four hopefuls wanting to replace Rishi Sunak as leader. The contest is set to go from four to two in the next fortnight, and then members will have their final choice in the run-off. While the merchandise may not truly swing votes, it does give an indication of the strength of each campaign team.
Tory leadership candidates to deliver keynote speeches as conference ends
The four Conservative leadership candidates are preparing for their final chance to address the party’s conference in their race to be Rishi Sunak’s successor.
Optimism, the party’s future and the economy will be among the topics touched on when Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly address delegates in Birmingham on Wednesday.
Their contest has been the focus of the four-day gathering as the party looks to rebuild after the general election loss in July.
The final session comes the day after Mr Jenrick suffered a backlash from his rivals for claiming that UK special forces were “killing rather than capturing” terrorists.
Ms Badenoch is also expected to focus on economic policy and pitch that the Conservatives “have to be the party of wealth creation”, while Mr Cleverly will tell members to be “enthusiastic” and “optimistic”, and that they will win back the electorate by being “professional”.
James Cleverly admits he ‘messed up’ when he joked about spiking his wife
James Cleverly said he “messed up” when he joked about spiking his wife’s drink with a date rape drug.
In December 2023, the Sunday Mirror reported that Mr Cleverly told female guests at a Number 10 event that “a little bit of Rohypnol in her drink every night” was “not really illegal if it’s only a little bit”.
At the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, the former home secretary said his comments – which he made hours after announcing plans to crack down on spiking – were “wrong” and “crass”.
Asked what his wife Susannah Cleverly’s response to the remark was, Mr Cleverly replied: “Oh you don’t want to hear what Mrs Cleverly said to me after.
“If you think that got me in trouble, repeating the words she said to me would get me in an awful lot of trouble, particularly on a live broadcast.
“Look, I messed up. I messed up. I was trying to make a point that I was the home secretary who was updating the law to make spiking illegal, to protect women. I was trying to make that point in front of a number of journalists.”
Half Tory members want party to merge with Reform, poll for Liz Truss’s thinktank reveals
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The claims by the rightwing think tank come as Jacob Rees-Mogg calls for the Tories to strike an electoral pact with Reform
Watch: Robert Jenrick admits his daughter's middle name is Thatcher
ICYMI: Jenrick says he would ‘absolutely’ reverse VAT on private schools
Robert Jenrick has said he “would absolutely” reverse Labour’s introduction of VAT on private schools if he were to become prime minister.
Speaking about his own experience of being sent to private school, the Tory leadership contender said we “should never bow to the politics of envy”.
Mr Jenrick said: “I grew up to two people from a working-class background. Money was quite tight in our household - my mum and dad had quit their jobs and set up a small business and it didn’t prosper initially.
“I went to a state primary school and my grandad died. And my grandmother, who was not a wealthy person herself, decided - instead of going on a cruise or doing anything else you might do with some money - to spend that money putting my sister and I through private school.
“To me, that is an innately conservative story and we should never bow to the politics of envy. We should respect people who make decisions like that.”
Exclusive: Rishi Sunak draws inspiration from Blair as he plans to stay involved in UK politics with his own team
Read the full report from our political editor David Maddox:
Sunak will not move to California as he plans Blair-style role in British politics
Exclusive: Friends of Rishi Sunak have revealed he will not be quitting politics to move to California but plans to stay involved with British politics
Watch: Tom Tugendhat giving out the Tugend-hat at Tory party conference
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