UK politics live: Badenoch vows to ‘make Starmer sweat’ as Jenrick promises big migration cut in Tory speeches
Tugendhat, Cleverly, Badenoch and Jenrick have delivered last pitch to become new Conservative party leader
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The four Conservative leadership candidates have delivered their final speeches at the party’s conference in their race to be Rishi Sunak’s successor.
Starting her speech, Kemi Badenoch has promised to make “Sir Keir Starmer sweat, Angie uncomfortable, and make Rachel wriggle” if she becomes the new Tory leader.
The shadow secretary also attacked her own government for its record on net zero targets, claiming the previous administration had stop acting like the Conservatives.
Tory rival Robert Jenrick used his speech to target “mass migration” promising to set a new net zero target and leave the ECHR to “finish what Brexit started”.
James Cleverly issued an apology to members of the Tory party following the party’s brutal election defeat in July, urging the party to avoid complacency, warning against “wallowing in self-pity” after Labour’s landslide victory.
During his pitch, Tom Tugendhat called for Thatcher-style revolution for a “free economy” and blamed bureaucrats for failings in the NHS, warning the health service is “not the envy of the world”.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
Watch: Tory leadership hopefuls Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat address party conference
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Jonathan Gullis complains he can’t get a job as a teacher because he’s a Tory
Pictured: Final speeches kick off with empty seats
ANALYSIS | Jenrick almost in full voice
Reports of the demise of Robert Jenrick’s voice have been greatly exaggerated according to his inner circle, our political editor David Maddox writes from the conference.
The candidate currently seen as the frontrunner in the race was said to have gone full croak after three days of speeches and Q&As.
But Mr Jenrick is understood to have taken a few lozinges and be ready for his big speech of the week.
“It was all a bit exaggerated,” an ally tells The Independent.
Timetable of Tory conference speeches
The Tory leadership candidates are ready kick off their final speeches at the main stage.
Here’s the order of events:
- 10.40am: Shadow chief whip Stuart Andrew will make a brief speech
- 10.45am: Tom Tugendhat
- 11.10am: James Cleverly
- 11.35am: Robert Jenrick
- 12pm: Kemi Badenoch
- 12.25pm: The Tory conference will end with a rendition of the national anthem.
ANALYSIS | The lack of enthusiasm is worrying for the Tories
Usually there are long snaking queues to get in to hear the leader’s speech at conference, our political editor David Maddox writes from the conference.
But with the Tories weird format of turning the conference into a hustings for four would-be leaders things seem to be different this year.
There was no queue to get through the security barriers and the giant conference centre in Birmingham seemed to be deadly quiet.
There have not been many people this year, as the local restaurants have discovered to their cost, but many of the few who were appear to have left early.
Perhaps hearing each of Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat non-stop for three days was enough.
Pictured: Tories ready for final conference speeches
ICYMI: Badenoch says up to 50,000 civil servants should be jailed
Kemi Badenoch has sparked backlash after joking 50,000 civil servants were so bad at their jobs they should be jailed, claiming they undermine ministers and leak official secrets.
Speaking on the fringes of the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Ms Badenoch drew laughter from the audience as she said five to 10 per cent of government department staff should be in prison.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story below:
Kemi Badenoch says up to 50,000 ‘very, very bad’ civil servants should be jailed
A spokesperson for the Public and Commercial Services union accused the Tory leadership contender of continuing a ‘personal feud’ against civil servants
Nadine Dorries: Kemi Badenoch should be disqualified from Tory race
Nadine Dorries has called for Kemi Badenoch to be discualified from the Tory leadership contest for “plotting to remove” Boris Johnson from Downing Street.
The former cabinet minister and Boris Johnson ally urged delegates at the party conference not to vote for Ms Badenoch.
In a fierce criticism, she said: “We all know how the [media] feel about Kemi Badenoch, don’t we? I’d be deeply concerned. I think you need to have to be non-confrontational. I think you need to have demonstrated that you were loyal when you served in government.
“I think if you are someone who plotted to remove a sitting prime minister, you should automatically be disqualified.”
Refusing to settle on any of the other three Tory contenders, she addded: “All three of them are men of integrity. All three of them have proven that they put.
“They understand they’re grown ups, that they understand that if you remove sitting prime ministers who were elected with a vote share bigger than that of Tony Blair there lies madness and lies, and defeat for the party.”
James Cleverly to promise ‘Conservatism with a smile’ in speech
James Cleverly will promise to bring Conservatism “with a smile” if he becomes the new party leader.
During his keynote speech this morning, the former home secretary will urge the Tories to stop being the “grumpy party” and be more “enthusiastic” and “positive” in opposition.
He will tell the conference: “Let’s be enthusiastic; relatable; positive; optimistic.
“Let’s sell the benefits of a Conservative government with a smile. We will not win back voters by pretending to be something we’re not. We win back voters by being honest, by being professional, by being Conservative.”
COMMENT | Tories must prove they are working for the public good – or face oblivion
Without drastic action, the Conservative Party could be wiped out as a parliamentary force at the next election. Here’s why, says Hereford MP Jesse Norman:
Tories must prove they are working for the public good – or face oblivion
Without drastic action, the Conservative Party could be wiped out as a parliamentary force at the next election. Here’s why, says Hereford MP Jesse Norman
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