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.
Keir Starmer to meet Nato secretary general
The Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, is expected to visit Downing Street tomorrow for talks with Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy.
The talks come ahead of the prime minister’s trip to Berlin this weekend to meet allies to discuss Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Tories to vote against renters bill, Badenoch slams ‘backdoor rent control'
As MPs prepare to vote on the controversial renters’ rights bill this afternoon, the Conservative Party is unsurprisingly poised to oppose the legislation.
Kemi Badenoch said the bill fails to deliver but admitted the need for tenant security and affordable housing.
The Tory leadership rival claimed the bill “will act as a powerful disincentive for anyone to rent out their property”.
She added: “Instead of landlord and tenant freely entering into a contract they can renew when the terms expire, all tenancies will continue indefinitely until terminated by the tenant – there will be no more fixed-term tenancies.
“If a landlord wants to recover possession of their property they will have to obtain a court order.
“Worse than that, the landlord can only apply to get their own property back on the basis of a limited list of reasons.
“What sort of market is it where you can’t decide what to do with your own property? This is a violation of the principle of freedom of contract.
“Labour is also bringing in rent control through the back door, as judges will be able to determine a market rent instead of the law of supply and demand.”
Watch live: Starmer faces PMQs grilling on Labour turmoil as Tory leadership takes shape
Watch: Starmer faces PMQs grilling on Labour turmoil as Tory leadership takes shape
Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer faces a PMQs grilling on the turmoil surrounding his Labour party today (Wednesday 9 October).
Pictured: Culture secretary Lisa Nandy tours Pinewood Studios
Poll reveals 35 per cent of voters turned off by Conservative candidates’ views
A recent Savanta poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats indicates a substantial decline in support for the Conservative Party due to controversial remarks from candidates.
The survey revealed 35 per cent of respondents would be less likely to vote Conservative if their leader endorsed Donald Trump, referring to Robert Jenrick’s comments he would be voting for the Republican candidate.
The poll also found that 35 per cent disapproved of Kemi Badenoch’s comments regarding maternity pay being “excessive”.
Comments by James Cleverly about drink-spiking laso turned off 35 per cent of potential voters.
Around 31 per cent of voters expressed reluctance to support the party if their new leader had previously endorsed Liz Truss in the 2022 leadership race, with Mr Cleverly among those who backed her.
Cleverly: Home secretary Yvette Cooper faces scrutiny over Taylor Swift claims
Conservative leadership candidate James Cleverly has demanded that home secretary Yvette Cooper to address “some questions” regarding allegations of her intervention to secure a blue-light police escort for Taylor Swift.
The claims, reported by The Sun, suggested that Ms Cooper played a role in the decision to grant the popstar VVIP protection amid heightened security concerns following a foiled suicide bomb plot in Austria.
Cabinet minister says Tories facing huge decision over leadership
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