Politics tamfitronics
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox
Get our free View from Westminster email
Get our free View from Westminster email
The four Conservative leadership candidates have delivered their final speeches at the party’s conference in their race to be Rishi Sunak’s successor.
Starting her speech, Kemi Badenoch has promised to make “Sir Keir Starmer sweat, Angie uncomfortable, and make Rachel wriggle” if she becomes the new Tory leader.
The shadow secretary also attacked her own government for its record on net zero targets, claiming the previous administration had stop acting like the Conservatives.
Tory rival Robert Jenrick used his speech to target “mass migration” promising to set a new net zero target and leave the ECHR to “finish what Brexit started”.
James Cleverly issued an apology to members of the Tory party following the party’s brutal election defeat in July, urging the party to avoid complacency, warning against “wallowing in self-pity” after Labour’s landslide victory.
During his pitch, Tom Tugendhat called for Thatcher-style revolution for a “free economy” and blamed bureaucrats for failings in the NHS, warning the health service is “not the envy of the world”.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
In pictures: Tory leadership candidates end conference speeches
Salma Ouaguira2 October 2024 13:50
Badenoch refuses to take questions from the media
Kemi Badenoch refused to take questions from the media after her speech, Millie Cooke reports from the conference.
While the three other candidates all spoke to journalists after their conference addresses, Ms Badenoch instead sent out four of her supporting MPs to take questions from the press.
Asked repeatedly where the former business secretary was, and why she wasn’t speaking to the press, Badenoch-backer Chris Philp said she had already done “lots of interviews with journalists”.
The Tory leadership contender was mobbed by reporters as she left the conference centre but still refused to answer questions.
Millie Cooke2 October 2024 13:35
Starmer vows to put UK-EU relationship back on ‘stable, positive footing’
Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to put the UK-EU relationship back on a “stable, positive footing” as he met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels.
The Prime Minister said: “I firmly believe that the British public want to return to pragmatic, sensible leadership when it comes to dealing with our closest neighbours, to make Brexit work and to deliver in their interests, to find ways to boost economic growth, strengthen our security and tackle shared challenges like irregular migration and climate change.”
He added that “in dangerous times we have a duty to work together to preserve stability and security,” referring to the crisis in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.
Sir Keir said: “We are determined to put this relationship back on a stable, positive footing that I think we all want to see.”
Salma Ouaguira2 October 2024 13:26
Tom Tugendhat campaign video
Salma Ouaguira2 October 2024 13:20
Pictured: Tory leadership rivals sing national anthem
Salma Ouaguira2 October 2024 13:15
Keir Starmer in Brussels to meet Ursula von der Leyen
Sir Keir Starmer has just arrived to Brussels to meet president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
In a joint statement ahead of their meeting, Ms von der Leyen said that she is “very glad” to meet the prime minister again after their bilateral at the UN last week.
Both leaders “strongly condemned” Iran’s retaliatory attack on Israel last night and said that the “spiral of violence is threatening the lives of innocent civilians”.
Adding to her statement, Sir Keir declared that the UK stands with Israel and its “right to defend itself”.
Salma Ouaguira2 October 2024 13:12
Labour slams ‘dangerous and reckless ideas’ from Tory candidates
The Labour Party has reacted to the speeches made by the Tory leadership candidates.
Commons leader Lucy Powell described the Conservative Party conference as “chaotic and divisive mess” and claimed the four rivals “played a part in the chaos and decline over the last 14 years”.
She added: “They have learnt nothing from their abysmal defeat at the general election.
“From attacking maternity pay or the minimum wage, to criticising our armed forces – these are dangerous and reckless ideas, from Tory leadership contenders who are out of touch with what matters to the British people.”
Salma Ouaguira2 October 2024 13:08
Watch live: Starmer speaks from Brussels in bid to reset Britain’s relationship with the EU
Salma Ouaguira2 October 2024 13:00
Conservative Party conference comes to an end
Kemi Badenoch has now concluded her speech.
All four candidates are on stage together taking applause from the Conservative members of the audience.
The Tory conference is now ending with a rendition of the national anthem.
Salma Ouaguira2 October 2024 12:50
‘Time to start renewal right now’
Ending her speech, Kemi Badenoch said: “After we have picked and unpicked the damage done by the Labour government, my vision for beyond 2030 is this – for Britain to be a country where people can find a shared identity, four nations but one United Kingdom.
“A country where being a British citizen means more than just having a British passport. A country where people can be committed to each other, irrespective of their religion or what they look like. A Britain that its friends with its neighbours but will always proudly protect its national interests.
“A Britain at ease with itself, a Britain that believes in itself. And that sort of Britain can only come about because of renewed Conservative principles. And the time to start that renewal is right now.”
Salma Ouaguira2 October 2024 12:49
