
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch have faced a rebuff from a centrist faction of the Conservative party.
The Tory Reform Group (TRG), representing One Nation Conservatives, has declined to endorse either leadership candidates criticising their campaign rhetorics.
In a statement, the group said it had “engaged extensively” with all leadership hopefuls but was left unimpressed by the two finalists, accusing them of adopting a narrative that diverges from the principles that define the Tories.
The backlash comes as Mr Jenrick threw a thinly-veiled criticism at fellow contender Kemi Badenoch, suggesting the shadow secretary is an unserious candidate.
In his speech at the Policy Exchange think tank, he told supporters that the choices in the election are framed around his “serious plan” versus “not needless drama”, which was an apparent attack at his rival.
The former immigration minister also promised to bring back the government’s Rwanda deportation plan.
After the address, he rejected suggestions that Tory MPs mistakenly backed him for the final two in the leadership race, following speculation about internal “horse trading”.
Mr Jenrick was asked directly whether he could have made the final two by mistake. He admitted that there is always some manoeuvring but was confident that MPs ultimately chose him based on his leadership credentials.
My colleague Holly Evans is in Cheltenham at Boris Johnson’s book launch event:
When questioned about “the big bullsh***ing bus”, referring to his Brexit campaign bus, he responded: “that’s what other people call it.”
He said: “The £350m bus the whole point of that was it was 100% accurate, that was the gross figure
“As far as it was inaccurate, it was an understatement of the gross figure
I think that’s a significant sum and people were right to ask what they were getting for it and that was only a tiny fraction of the argument.”
When facing questioning from Times columnist Juliet Samuel, he said: Brexit enabled us, you won’t necessarily hear it on the BBC or on the leading columns of The Times.”
Referencing vaccination figure rates, he said: “Brexit in my view saved lives and people didn’t expect that but it happened to be true.
Asked to provide two concrete dividends from Brexit, he appeared to bluster and came under scrutiny when questioned over his answer “money”.
Athena Stavrou10 October 2024 20:39
My colleague Holly Evans is in Cheltenham at Boris Johnson’s book launch event:
The former prime minister has taken to the stage, albeit behind schedule, to discuss his biography, Unleashed, as it is released today.
After apologising for being late, Johnson began by thanking the crowd and was met with cheers.
Beginning by discussing his image on the zipline ahead of the Olympics, he recalled thinking it would bring some ‘ratmatazz’ after a ‘grim’ few days to begin the tournament with few GB medals and a lack of crowds.
“I love zipwires I went on one in India,” he said. “I did get stuck 40 feet up in some discomfort and was subject to global ridicule, it did have the effect I intended.”
Athena Stavrou10 October 2024 20:34
Liberal Democrats are urging the government to establish an NFL franchise in London following years of successful NFL games held at Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Max Wilkinson, the party’s sports spokesperson and MP for Cheltenham, made the case in the Commons highlighting the potential economic boost of “hundreds of millions of pounds” that a dedicate NFL team could bring to the capital.
Mr Wilkinson also called for broader access to sports by advocating for increased free-to-air coverage of international cricket, rugby, golf, and tennis.
He told MPs: “While I enjoyed many days at The Dell [in Southampton] watching Matt Le Tissier and others, the majority of my consumption of sports was on free-to-air television.
“Today, youngsters simply do not have the same opportunity to be inspired.
“I would urge the government to consider extending free-to-air coverage of international cricket, rugby, golf and tennis, and even extending protection to some live Premier League football coverage, too.”
Salma Ouaguira10 October 2024 20:30
Assisted dying will be debated and voted on in the House of Commons next month, for the first time for almost a decade.
MPs will be able to make their opinions known in the Commons on the controversial subject when they debate the bill on choice at the end of life for people with terminal illness on November 29.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s bill is due to be formally introduced in Parliament on Wednesday. Details of the legislation will be published ahead of the first full debate and vote next month, the MP’s office said.
Ms Leadbeater and campaigners gathered outside parliament yesterday where the the MP for Spen Valley said she wanted to meet families with experience of what she described as a “really, really important issue”.
Opponents to changing the law have argued some people could feel pressured to have an assisted death against their will, and have called for more focus on improving and ensuring equal access to palliative care.
Athena Stavrou10 October 2024 20:11
Salma Ouaguira10 October 2024 20:00
Rail travel has become a “luxury” that many people can no longer afford, a Liberal Democrat MP has said, as his party called on the Government to freeze rail fares.
Will Forster said commuters were “ironically risking debt to make a living” as they used trains to get to work.
Opening an adjournment debate on rail fares, Mr Forster said: “At a time when people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, these eye-watering fare rises are not only unfair but they are counterproductive.
“If we are serious about promoting economic growth, if we’re serious about tackling climate change, we must make public transport an affordable and attractive option for everyone.
“Instead, rail travel has become a luxury many are finding they can no longer afford, ironically risking debt to earn a living – that isn’t acceptable.
“Worse still, these rising costs come alongside an increasingly unreliable service. A Freedom of Information request revealed that over 55,000 rush-hour trains were either partially or fully cancelled last year. That’s a 10% rise on the year before, and the worst record since 2019.”
Athena Stavrou10 October 2024 19:45
Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt has warned Labour that increasing employer National insurance contributions would represent a “clear breach” of the party’s manifesto promises.
His comments come in the wake of Sir Keir Starmer’s failure to definitively rule out such a rise during a recent discussion, sparking tax hike fears.
The Tory MP tweeted: “Regardless of what they say, raising Employer National Insurance is a clear breach of the Labour manifesto and a tax on working people. No amount of obfuscation can hide this.”
Labour’s manifesto stated: “We will ensure taxes on working people are kept as low as possible. Labour will not increase taxes on working people, which is why we will not increase National Insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of Income Tax, or VAT.”
Salma Ouaguira10 October 2024 19:30
Prisoners in Scotland serving less than four months will be released early under Scottish Government plans.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance announced the release point for short-term prisoners will be reduced from 50% of their sentence to 40%, which she said would result in between 260 and 390 prisoners being freed.
The UK Government recently took similar action in an effort to bring down the prison population.
Ms Constance also did not rule out the potential for a further emergency early release of prisoners as was undertaken earlier this year, when almost 500 were allowed to leave custody – 57 of whom have since been returned to prison.
“I intend to pursue a similar policy to change the point at which most short-term prisoners are released from the current 50% to after 40% of their sentence has been served,” she said in Parliament on Thursday.
“This proposal would come with statutory exclusions in relation to domestic abuse and sexual offences, recognising the particular concerns which will arise in relation to such offences.”
Athena Stavrou10 October 2024 19:13
The leading centrist group on the left of the Tory party has announced it will not endorse either of the hard-right candidates put forward by Conservative MPs for members to choose from.
The Tory Reform Group (TRG), which is in its 50th year, issued a statement after former home secretary James Cleverly was shockingly eliminated from the contest on Wednesday. It leaves two right-wing candidates Robert Jenrick, who wants the UK to leave the European Convention of Human Rights, and Kemi Badenoch, who has been a leading voice in the so-called culture wars including trans issues.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story below:
Salma Ouaguira10 October 2024 19:00
Downing Street has come under fire for excluding deputy prime minister Angela Rayner from the permanent membership of the UK’s National Security Council (NSC).
The decision marks a departure from established protocol, as previous deputy prime ministers have held a permanent seat since the NSC’s inception under David Cameron in 2010.
The current council, chaired by the prime minister, includes key figures such as chancellor Rachel Reeves, home secretary Yvette Cooper, foreign secretary David Lammy, defence secretary John Healey and attorney general Lord Harmer.
While Ms Rayner can still attend meetings based on the agenda, her absence from the core membership has raised eyebrows.
In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer denied any intentional slight against the PM’s deputy.
They said: “All cabinet committees include a range of secretaries of state, usually relevant to their portfolio.
“As you can see on the list of attendees meeting, attendees are not fixed and ministers are always invited according to the specific agenda of the meeting.”
Salma Ouaguira10 October 2024 18:30
Boris Johnson discussing ‘bullsh***ing’ Brexit bus at book launch event
Boris Johnson discusses Olympic zipline stunt at book launch event
Lib Dems push for London’s own NFL franchise
Date confirmed for first Commons debate on assisted dying for a decade
Pictured: John Swinney shows support for Breast Cancer Now
Rail travel a ‘luxury’ many can no longer afford, says Lib Dem MP
Hunt warns Labour risks manifesto breach over national insurance hike
Short-term prisoners in Scotland to be released earlier, says Justice Secretary
Tory centrists refuse to back Jenrick or Badenoch as MPs leave them disenfranchised
No 10 denies snubbing Angela Rayner from National Security Council