UK politics live: Starmer pays back £6,000 in gifts amid donations row as Lord Alli faces interest probe
Prime minister ‘covering cost of six Taylor Swift tickets, four races tickest and designer clothing deal’ for his wife
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Sir Keir Starmer has paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he received since the election, after the row over ministerial donations, it’s been revealed.
The prime minister is covering the cost of six Taylor Swift tickets, four tickets to the races and a clothing rental agreement with a high-end designer favoured by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister has commissioned a new set of principles on gifts and hospitality to be published as part of the updated ministerial code. Ahead of the publication of the new code, the prime minister has paid for several entries on his own register. This will appear in the next register of members’ interests.”
Labour peer Lord Waheed Alli is under investigation over alleged non-registration of interests that could lead to a possible breach of the members’ code of conduct.
The fashion mogul, who has been at the centre of the row over donations accepted by Sir Keir Starmer, is being probed by the Lords’ commissioner.
Meanwhile, James Cleverly issued an apology to Tory members following the party’s brutal election defeat in July, urging the party to avoid complacency, warning against “wallowing in self-pity”.
Watch: Tory leadership hopefuls Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat address party conference
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Tugendhat accuses Starmer of being ‘venal and vindictive’
Tom Tugendhat told the conference: “Let’s be honest as a patriot I want what’s best for our country, so I always want our country to succeed. Labour have already shown us who we are.
“They are the most venal and vindictive administration in decades.”
‘We can’t afford Labour,’ says Tugendhat
Tom Tugendhat has promised to transform the Conservative party from a “a Westminster club to a champion of Conservative voices”.
He added: “From Holyrood to Cardiff Bay and Stormont and every council across our great country, I will defeat Labour and lead us back to power in five years’ time. We all know that this country cannot afford Labour.
“You can’t afford Labour, I can’t afford Labour, Lord Alli can’t afford Labour.”
ANALYSIS | Tugendhat goes back to his military record
Tom Tugendhat has the toughest slot going out first of the four contenders, David Maddox writes from the conference.
He has gone back to his favourite theme as a former soldier who was part of the invasion of Iraq.
For the former security it is all about leadership. He believes that being on the battlefield prepares him for the slings and arrows of Westminster politics.
His pitch has got a warm response from the audience.
But his military background helps in his attack on Labour “the most venal government in our history.”
“I know what is like when a Labour government doesn’t have your back. The last Labour government left us without body armour in Iraq.” he added.
Tugendhat needs to win this audience because many are now speculating he will get into the final two but is seen as too leftwing for the members.
So far so good for him.
Tugendhat appeals to Reform and Lib Dem voters
Tom Tugendhat has now shifted his focus towards voters the Conservatives lost at the general election.
He said: “If you went to Reform I want to show you the Conservative values that we share. If you went to the Lib Dems I want you to see the opportunities that only we can deliver. If you went to Labour I want to show you why freedom, not state control, is how we build.
“If you stayed at home, I want to make you proud to vote Conservative again.”
‘I will serve with conviction'
Directly addressing Tory members, Tom Tugendhat has vowed to serve “with conviction”.
Mr Tugendhat added: “I know what drove them, I know what drove me. Leadership. It is not about empty promises or government by management consultancy, it is not about managed decline or talking our country down. Leadership is about making choices that serve our country and our people best.
“I will serve our country, I will lead with conviction, I will act decisively. My mission is the prosperity and the happiness of the British people. Together we can win.”
Tory candidate highlights his leadership experience as soldier
Reminding the conference about his time as a soldier, Tom Tugendhat has claimed he knows what leadership is from his time in Afghanistan.
He said: “I’m standing because what we need is leadership. I’m standing not just to become leader of the Conservative Party, but to be the next leader of this great country.
“Now friends, I know what leadership really is. Before I stood for Parliament, I was a soldier, I served our country and I faced our enemies. I know what leadership demands.
“When everything has been cut away and there is nothing left, character is what is left. In Iraq and Afghanistan I served in combat along the best. I’ve seen friends push themselves beyond their limits and some made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Tom Tugendhat takes aim at rival candidates for 'lacking substance'
Tom Tugendhat has criticised his fellow leadership candidates for lacking in “substance” during their campaigns, as well as taking aim at “petty point scoring” in Westminster, Millie Cooke reports from the conference.
Speaking on the main stage of the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Mr Tugendhat said the country “can do better”.
He said: “We’ve heard platitudes not substance in this campaign. Too much about personality, not enough about principle.
“Too much about change without saying how. And I’m standing before you today because I’ve had enough of the lack of substance, the lack of principle, the lack of clarity.
“My friends, I’ve had enough of Westminster’s political games, petty point scoring and self-service. It’s not becoming of our great party, or our great nation. We can do better.”
Tom Tugendhat kicks off final conference speeches
Tom Tugendhat is on his feet using his last chance to convince delegates he is the right man to become the next Tory leader.
He told the conference: “Good morning conference!” but received a muted reception, to which he added: “Shall we try that again? Good morning conference!”
Mr Tugendhat then said: “The last four days here with all of you has helped deliver my disappointment and my anger into optimism. I can feel the determination, I can feel the energy, I can feel the hope... I know we can and we will rebuild this party.
“I know we can and we will reconnect with the British people. I know we can and we will restore trust. And I know if we restore trust, we can and we will win again.”
Watch live: Conservative Party leadership candidates appeal to members on final day of conference
Live: Conservative leadership candidates appeal to members on final day of conference
Watch live as the Conservative Party's leadership contest candidates speak to members on the final day of the party conference on Wednesday, 2 October.
ANALYSIS | This could be make or break for Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch came into this contest as a clear favourite but is now fighting to stay in the contest, David Maddox writes from the conference.
Her crown on the right seems to have been snatched by Robert Jenrick. Meanwhile she is in danger of being knocked out of the final two by Tom Tugendhat or James Cleverly as the candidate of the left.
She has not been helped by gaffes on maternity pay or putting civil servants in prison.
But Badenoch is the one with the most star quality which she needs to show today to get her campaign back on track.
As one MP in a rival camp put it: “ Kemi needs to win 3 nil today and Jenrick can get away with a 2 all draw.”
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