UK politics live: Cleverly knocked out in huge Tory leadership shock to set up Badenoch and Jenrick clash
Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick locked in final battle to replace Rishi Sunak as new leader
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In a shocking turn of events, James Cleverly has been eliminated of the Tory leadership race, leaving Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch to face a vote of the party membership.
The ex-home secretary was in a leading position to make it through the latest stage after leapfrogging former frontrunner Mr Jenrick to first place on Tuesday.
But Tory MPs decided to knock him out after Tom Tugendhat, a former security minister and favourite of the One Nation caucus of Tory MPs, also lost the race on Tuesday.
Ms Badenoch emerged as the frontrunner in the final vote, securing 42 votes from MPs and positioning herself as strong contender to succeed Rishi Sunak.
Mr Jenrick closely trailed behind with 41 votes, while Mr Cleverly’s campaign took a dramatic downturn result with just 37 votes.
The final two MPs will now face an online ballot of Tory members from 10 to 31 October, with the winner of the contest announced on 2 November.
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.
Minister defends Labour’s actions over Taylor Swift police escort
Culture secretary Lisa Sandy has firmly denied any allegations of misconduct regarding the Labour government’s involvement in Taylorswift’s blue-light escort to her Wembley concert.
It comes after claims emerged that Labour Party members intervened in the decision-making process, Ms Nandy stated that any conversations about security risks would have involved Yvette Cooper.
But she insisted that she does not possess the authority to mandate such high-level police protection.
“It’s an operational matter for the police, not for the government,” she told Sky News.
The minister added that the home secretary will have made a “considered judgement about that and express a view”.
She added: “Don’t forget that when it comes to Taylor Swift, what had just happened was that a series of concerts have been cancelled in Vienna because of the very serious security threat.
“I really utterly reject that there’s been any kind of wrongdoing or undue influence in this case.”
Labour ‘pushed’ police for royal-style escort for Taylor Swift concert
Labour’s top politicians have reportedly pressured police to grant Taylor Swift a costly VVIP blue-light escort during her August shows at Wembley Stadium.
The request doe special treatment came after security concerns, following a thwarted suicide bomb plot in Austria the week before, The Sun reports.
However, Metropolitan Police chiefs initially resisted providing the high-level protection, which is typically reserved for senior royalty and political leaders.
The singer’s mother and manager are said to have threatened to cancel the shows.
Despite the opposition from senior police figures, including those in charge of the Special Escort Group (SEG), the intervention of senior Labour figures, including home secretary Yvette Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, reportedly led to the decision being overturned.
The revelation comes at a time when Labour continues to face criticism over its close relationship with freebies, with the prime minister and the mayor of London among those receiving complimentary tickets to Swift’s gigs.
A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan told Sky News: “We don’t comment on the Met’s security arrangements – they are operational decisions for them.”
ICYMI: Keir Starmer as unpopular with public as Nigel Farage
Sir Keir Starmer is now as unpopular as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, the latest opinion polling has suggested.
Some 60% of people now hold an unfavourable opinion of the Labour Party, according to pollsters at YouGov, just three months after it swept to power with a landslide majority at the general election.
Sir Keir’s net favourability ratings have dropped to minus 36 with the British public, while Mr Farage is at minus 35.
Scottish Labour rebels over Keir Starmer’s winter fuel payment cuts
Two senior Scottish Labour MSPs have defied their party leadership in a significant vote at Holyrood, calling for the government to reverse controversial cuts to winter fuel payments.
The motion, brought by First Minister John Swinney, demands Westminster to scrap its decision to make benefit means-tested.
It passed overwhelmingly, with 99 votes to 14.
Former Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard and Alex Rowley, who recently stepped down from the frontbencher, joined forces with the SNP and other parties to back the non-binding motion.
A Scottish Labour amendment, which sought to remove the demand for a U-turn and instead called on the Scottish government to reinstate the fuel insecurity fund, was defeated.
Party leader Anas Sarwar defended the prime minister’s stance, claiming that while the new criteria for winter fuel payments was “too restrictive”, the move was necessary.
The government’s decision has sparked controversy north of the border, where the Scottish government claims its hands are tied.
Mr Swinney warned that the cuts, combined with rising energy prices, were creating a “double whammy” for vulnerable pensioners.
Good morning
Welcome back to our live coverage.
The Conservative leadership contest intensifies today, with another crucial vote set to narrow the field from three to two candidates.
Yesterday say Tom Tugendhat exit the race, leaving Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly and Robert Jenrick to battle it out.
By 3.30pm today, we will know which candidates will go head-to-head in the final round, as Tory MPs cast their decisive votes.
Mr Cleverly, who surged to the top in the latest round, will be looking to maintain his lead, while Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick vie for that second spot.
In other political news, Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak are set for a fiery exchange during Prime Minister’s Questions at noon. Key issues on the top of the agenda will include Labour’s upcoming tax plans in their budget statement.
Stay tuned for live updates throughout the day, including morning media rounds with culture secretary Lisa Nandy and leadership contender Robert Jenrick.
Jenrick and Badenoch battle for final spot in Tory leadership race
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch are locked in a tight race to secure a place in the final round of the Conservative leadership contest, with just one vote separating the two candidates.
James Cleverly appears to have a clear path to the final stage after topping yesterday’s vote with 39 supporters, leaving Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch to compete for the remaining spot.
The former immigration secretary received 31 votes, while the shadow business secretary followed closely with 30.
Both are seen as rising figures on the Conservative right. But, with just hours left before MPs cast their votes for the last time, the rivals are scrambling to consolidate support among their parliamentary colleagues.
Ms Badenoch’s team urged MPs to rally behind her as the candidate best suited to unify the party’s right wing, while a spokesperson for Mr Jenrick’s campaign claimed he is still in “prime position” to make the final two.
Campaigners welcome Angela Rayner’s bill to ban no-fault evictions
Renters’ voices are “finally starting to be heard”, a charity has said as Angela Rayner prepares to table her bill to ban “cruel” no-fault evictions.
Anti-homelessness charity Shelter said 11 million renters in England have been “ignored or shouted down” after sounding the alarm about the broken system for years.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the full story below:
Campaigners welcome Angela Rayner’s bill to ban no-fault evictions
Anti-homelessness charity Shelter said 11 million renters in England have been ‘ignored or shouted down’ after sounding the alarm about the broken system for years
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