UK politics live: Jenrick and Badenoch face off to join Cleverly in final two of Tory leadership contest
Conservative MPs to vote this afternoon after Starmer quizzed on Sue Gray and tax rises at PMQs
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Tory MPs have begun voting in their last ballot of the Conservative leadership race as Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch brace for a close contest to make it into the final two.
Ex-home secretary James Cleverly is in pole position to make it through the latest stage after leapfrogging former frontrunner Mr Jenrick to first place on Tuesday.
The former immigration minister warned this morning about a potential “horse-trading” as the final voting round in the Conservative leadership race looms.
Tom Tugendhat’s elimination saw the Tory leadership contest narrow to a final three contenders, with James Cleverly receiving a significant boost in support in Tuesday’s vote.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer faced a grilling from Rishi Sunak in his first PMQs since reshuffling his Downing Street leadership team, after Sue Gray’s shock exit as his chief of staff.
The Conservative leader took aim at Sir Keir’s weekend reshuffle, which saw Sue Gray ousted as chief of staff and reappointed as envoy for the nations and regions.
Mr Sunak also pushed the prime minister to give a commitment that Labour will not change the government’s fiscal rules relating to public debt and borrowing and about his pledge not to put up National Insurance. But Sir Keir refused to clarify the situation twice.
Lunchtime bulletin
It’s a bustling day in Westminster with the return of PMQs this afternoon and the Tory leadership race set to narrow down to two contenders in a matter of minutes.
- At PMQs Sir Keir Starmer did not rule out the possibility of a national insurance tax increase for business or changes to debt rules in the upcoming budget.
- Tory leader Rishi Sunak reiterated his commitment not to raise national insurance, VAT, or income tax for “working people”.
- The prime minister also kept the door open for a youth mobility scheme with the EU.
- As for the Conservative leadership race, the party is currently counting MPs votes to determine who will advance to the final round.
- James Cleverly is currently leading the pack and is widely anticipated to secure his place, while Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch are vying for the second position.
Tory leadership voting now closed
Voting has now closed in the final round of Conservative MPs casting their ballots in the Tory leadership contest.
The result will be announced at 3.30pm.
WATCH | Starmer refuses to rule out national insurance rise twice in PMQs grilling
Starmer refuses to rule out national insurance rise twice in PMQs grilling
Sir Keir Starmer declined to rule out raising employers’ national insurance contributions as Tory leader Rishi Sunak attacked the prime minister over Downing Street personnel changes Mr Sunak told MPs: “When he talks about security at work, once again, it’s one rule for him and another rule for everyone else. “But I know that not everything or everyone has survived his first 100 days in Government, so can he confirm that when he promised not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, that commitment applies to both employer and employee national insurance contributions?” The prime minister replied: “We made an absolute commitment in relation to not raising tax on working people.”
‘Decency’ at the core of government housing strategy, Rayner tells MPs
Addressing the House of Commons, Angela Rayner said Labour was prioritising its Renters Rights Bill as it criticised the previous Conservative government for delaying their own planned reforms.
The housing secretary said: “I hope the entire house will agree that everyone should live in a decent, safe and affordable home. Everyone should, but not everyone can.
“This is why I have put decency at heart of my plans for housing and taken the steps to ensure that all homes are warm and safe, and nowhere is that more needed than in the private rented sector.”
Ms Rayner added: “The Conservatives promised to pass a renters’ reform Bill in the 2019 manifesto. Yet in a desperate attempt to placate their backbenchers, they caved into vested interests, leaving tenants at the continued mercy of unfair section 21 eviction notices.
“They dithered, delayed and made excuse after excuse for their inaction.”
She said since 2019 more than 100,000 households have been subject to a no-fault eviction, with 26,000 being in the last year alone.
“That is the inheritance that we need to fix,” she added.
COMMENT | Why James ‘normal’ Cleverly is the Tory leader Labour fears the most
The Conservative succession race has been turned on its head, and look who is smiling now, says John Rentoul:
Why James ‘normal’ Cleverly is the Tory leader Labour fears the most
The Conservative succession race has been turned on its head, and look who is smiling now, says John Rentoul
Angela Rayner presents Rights Bill in the Commons
Following the fiery PMQs grilling, deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner has taken the floor to introduce the highly anticipated Renters’ Rights Bill.
A significant component of the legislation is the ban on Section 21 “no fault” evictions, a move aimed at bolstering tenant security in a challenging housing market.
However, as the bill makes its way through the Commons, charities are raising alarms about potential loopholes.
Despite Labour’s pledge to cap the upfront costs landlords can impose on renters, concerns remain that tenants may still face hefty financial demands.
Jeremy Cleverly vows to ‘get people voting Conservative again’
Keir Starmer focused on ‘delivering change' in first 100 days
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said the government has spent its first 100 days focused on “delivery of the mandate for change”.
Asked whether Sir Keir Starmer is pleased with the government’s record as we approach 100 days in office, his official spokesperson said: “From day one we came in we took action to get growth into the economy.
“This is a government that in 100 days has ended strikes in the NHS, unlocked tens of billions of pounds in investment, powered homes with GB energy that will bring down energy bills.
“But we’ve always been clear that with the inheritance we received it was not going to be overnight fix.”
“The entire government is focussed on the delivery of the mandate for change that we received, so that work is continuing”, the spokesperson added.
Tory MPs start voting to whittle leadership hopefuls down to final two
Tory MPs have begun voting in their last ballot of the Conservative leadership race as Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch brace for a close contest to make it into the final two.
Ex-home secretary James Cleverly is in pole position to make it through the latest stage after leapfrogging former frontrunner Mr Jenrick to first place on Tuesday.
Mr Cleverly picked up 39 votes but just one ballot separates Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch, who received 31 and 30 respectively in the last round.
Today’s vote could hinge on how the 20 MPs who backed eliminated candidate Tom Tugendhat decide to vote.
The final result is expected to be announced at about 3.30pm.
Conservative Party members will then have the final say between the remaining two candidates, and the new party leader will be announced on 2 November.
PM's spokesperson refuses to rule out national insurance rise for businesses
The government has repeatedly refused to rule out increasing national insurance on businesses, saying it would never comment on pre-budget speculation.
Questioned by journalists after PMQ’s, the prime minister’s official spokesperson was repeatedly asked to rule out an increase to national insurance on employers.
They refused to do so, instead pointing to the manifesto which promises not to increase taxes on working people.
“The budget priority is about fixing foundations of the economy, economic stability and boosting investment”, the spokesperson said.
This came after Sir Keir Starmer declined to say whether his pre-election promise not to raise National Insurance applied to both employee and employer National Insurance payments at PMQs on Wednesday.
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