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

Tugendhat hits out at Jenrick for using video of dead friend in false claim on UK special forces

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.

Key Points

• James Cleverly pledges to abolish stamp duty on homes
• Tory leadership candidates to deliver last speeches as conference ends
• Kemi Badenoch tells migrants ‘our country is not a dormitory’
• Tugendhat hits out at Jenrick for using video of dead soldier
• EU pushes Starmer to open door to youth mobility scheme

[1 October 2024 23:30 · Jabed Ahmed]

Tugendhat says Jenrick knows ‘nothing’ about sensitive military matters amid SAS comments

Tory leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat has suggested his rival Robert Jenrick knows “nothing about” sensitive military matters.

Mr Tugendhat was asked about the Newark MP’s claims that British special forces had killed terrorists rather than capture them for fear human rights law would free detainees.

He told a Conservative conference fringe event: “It is an extremely serious allegation and without very specific examples it would be – I think – it would be irresponsible to do that.

“I have heard somebody say that we couldn’t have conducted an operation like that against Osama bin Laden, that is simply not true. It is just simply not true.”

Mr Tugendhat, a former security minister, added: “If you present a legitimate military threat to the United Kingdom, then we have under the laws of armed conflict today a legal ability and in fact a military capability to conduct operations to keep the British people safe.

“I am afraid that is simply a fact, and if you don’t know it please don’t comment on military matters you know nothing about.”

[1 October 2024 22:31 · Jabed Ahmed]

Starmer heads to Brussels seeking post-Brexit improvement in EU relations

Sir Keir Starmer heads to Brussels on Wednesday promising to “put the Brexit years behind us” as he seeks a closer relationship with the European Union.

The Prime Minister will push for a better trading relationship and greater co-operation on defence and security measures.

But he is under pressure to agree to Brussels’ calls for a deal on youth mobility to allow young EU citizens greater freedom to come to the UK to study and work and vice versa, something Sir Keir has so far resisted.

The Prime Minister will hold separate meetings with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, European Council chief Charles Michel and the European Parliament’s Roberta Metsola during his visit to Brussels.

[1 October 2024 21:37 · Holly Evans]

Young director of Tory think tank explains why she backs Kemi Badenoch for leader

[1 October 2024 21:30 · Jabed Ahmed]

UK universities urge government to restart EU student exchange programmes

[1 October 2024 20:57 · Holly Evans]

Former Tory deputy leader Michael Ancram passes away

Michael Ancram, a former deputy leader of the Conservative Party, has died at the age of 79, his family said.

A family statement said the 13th Marquess of Lothian, as he was formally known, died in hospital in the early hours of October 1 after a short illness.

He was surrounded by close family.

[1 October 2024 20:30 · Jabed Ahmed]

Shapps launches Conservatives Together group

The Tories ignored TikTok and failed to attract young people, Grant Shapps said as he launched Conservatives Together, a group that aims to pick the party back up after a record electoral defeat.

The former defence secretary, who lost his own seat in July, told a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference that the organisation was an independent group of MPs, former MPs, candidates and former candidates.

Mr Shapps said it was “definitely not a think tank” and will not be allied to a particular leadership campaign or candidate.

“We are thinking about: ‘How do we support conservatives at every level of the party who are involved in the party to campaign more effectively?’” he said.

Mr Shapps and Lord Kempsell both brushed off comparisons to Labour Together, a Labour think tank aligned with Sir Keir Starmer and now headed up by former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth.

Conservatives Together presented findings from interviews with 62 defeated parliamentary candidates and Tory MPs.

[1 October 2024 20:02 · Holly Evans]

Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Netanyahu and King of Jordan

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister spoke to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon, and they discussed the escalating situation across the Middle East.

“The Prime Minister condemned Iran’s attack on Israel today in the strongest terms, which began during the leaders’ conversation, and expressed the UK’s steadfast commitment to Israeli security and the protection of civilians.

“During the call, the Prime Minister also underlined the importance of a ceasefire in Lebanon to allow space for a political solution in line with UNSC Resolution 1701.

“The Prime Minister also raised the situation in Gaza and the importance of a ceasefire and action to bring home the hostages.

Sir Keir Starmer had also spoken to King Abdullah of Jordan about the “urgent need for a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza”.

“The Prime Minister spoke to King Abdullah II of Jordan earlier this afternoon from Downing Street,” the spokesperson said.

“The leaders began by underscoring the urgent need for a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza. They both called for de-escalation to prevent the extreme humanitarian situation from worsening.

“The Prime Minister said he will work alongside partners and do everything possible to push for de-escalation and push for a diplomatic solution.

“The leaders agreed to stay in touch.”

[1 October 2024 19:30 · Jabed Ahmed]

UK announces sanctions against members of Russian cybercrime gang

The UK has sanctioned 16 people linked to a Russian cybercrime gang accused of targeting health, government and public sector institutions.

The Foreign Office said Evil Corp’s activities included malware and ransomware attacks, with private commercial technology companies also among those targeted.

It added those sanctioned, in co-ordinated action alongside the United States and Australia, will be subject to a series of asset freezes and travel bans.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “I am making it my personal mission to target the Kremlin with the full arsenal of sanctions at our disposal.

“(Russian president Vladimir) Putin has built a corrupt mafia state with himself at its centre. We must combat this at every turn and today’s action is just the beginning.

“Today’s sanctions send a clear message to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate Russian cyber attacks – whether from the state itself or from its cybercriminal ecosystem.”

[1 October 2024 18:55 · Holly Evans]

Kemi Badenoch suggests that thousands of civil servants belong in prison

Kemi Badenoch has told an audience at the Tory conference in Birmingham that around 5 to 10 per cent of civil servants should be sent to prison - equating to about 56,000 of Whitehall.

The Tory leadership contender claimed between 5 to 10 per cent of civil servants “are very, very bad. You know, should be in prison bad.”

She listed leaking official secrets, undermining their ministers and agitating against the previous Tory government.

The remarks seem to the be latest gaffe from Ms Badenoch who has already been dubbed “Kemikazi” by her opponents.

Another gaffe came at the start of the conference where she appeared to say she thought maternity pay was too much before clarifying her position.

[1 October 2024 18:30 · David Maddox]

TUC backs discrimination at work - as long as it is against rightwing former Tory MPs

Former Tory MP Jonathan Gullis made some headlines at the party conference in Birmingham when he announced that he had tried to return to his old profession of teaching but had been blocked unfairly because he had been a Tory MP.

Mr Gullis is now working for Talk TV and had a role on Priti Patel’s ill-fated leadership campaign.

But his travails in finding work have not engendered much sympathy - especially from trade unions.

The TUC quote tweeted him with the comment: “The trade union movement will always stand up for workers facing unfair discrimination. This is not one of those times.”

An indignant Mr Gullis responded: “As a former trade union representative I always stood up for my members, regardless of their views. This is really disappointing to see.” But the TUC has insisted that its comment was “tongue-in-cheek”.

A spokesperson said: “It goes without saying that we oppose all and any forms of unfair treatment at work.

“This was a tongue-in-cheek response to Jonathan Gullis’ accusation that classrooms are full of ‘woke’ activists.

“His faux outrage shouldn’t disguise the fact that he was part of a government that relentlessly attacked teachers and their right to strike. We wish him all the best in finding a new job.”