Reuters
Four Conservative Party leadership candidates give speeches in Birmingham
Four Conservative Party leadership candidates have laid out their vision for reforming the party following its historic defeat in this year’s general election.
Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverley, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch tried to convince party members in speeches at the party’s conference in Birmingham.
Wisely, he said the party needed to become “more normal” to win back voters who had defected to Reform Britain.
Prime Minister Tugendhat promised a “new conservative revolution” focused on delivering better public services.
Mr Jenrick called for a “new Conservative Party” and promised a “de facto freeze on net immigration”, while Mr Badenoch said he would “reprogram the British nation” based on “new Conservative principles”. ” he said.
The Tory leadership race dominated much of the conference, as the party seeks to recover from its worst-ever performance in July’s general election.
In a break with tradition, the four candidates concluded the conference with speeches loyal to party members rather than outgoing Conservative leader Rishi Sunak.
After days of hounding from delegates and the media, the four leadership candidates will be narrowed down to two in a vote by Tory MPs next week.
Conservative members will then choose a new leader from the final two candidates in a final vote, with the results announced on November 2.
In their speeches, each candidate attacked Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying their party could win the next general election under their leadership, but only if they changed direction. Ta.
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Tom Tugendhat spoke about his experience in the military
Mr Tugendhat, who was first on stage at the conference, said there was not enough “substance” in the Conservative leadership campaign.
The former security minister spoke about his military experience in Iraq and Afghanistan and how it makes him an effective leader.
He appealed directly to voters who had left the Conservative Party, the Reform Party, the Labor Party, and the Liberal Democratic Party.
The truth was that many people who shared conservative values did not vote conservative.
He said the Conservative Party needed to “focus on what the British people need, from healthcare and immigration to security and education, and be absolutely ruthless in delivering it”. .
“We need a new conservative revolution,” he added. “That’s what Margaret Thatcher did. That’s what we need to do again, and we can do it.”
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James Cleverley said the party should emulate former US president Ronald Reagan
He wisely began his speech on behalf of Conservative MPs by saying he was “sorry” to Conservative Party activists about the outcome of the general election.
But in an upbeat speech peppered with jokes, the former home and foreign secretary said he knew from his past business life what it felt like to fail and get back up again.
He said his political hero was former Republican President Ronald Reagan and suggested conservatives should follow his example.
“Be enthusiastic, empathetic, positive and optimistic,” Cleverley said. “Let’s be more normal.”
He said Reform Britain was a “pale imitation” of his party and stressed there would be “no mergers or deals”.
To enthusiastic applause, he called for the abolition of “bad taxes like stamp duty” and for more housing construction.
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Robert Jenrick’s pitch focuses on plans to cut immigration
Mr Jenrick, the publishing front-runner, said he would rebuild a “new Conservative party” reminiscent of New Labor in the 1990s.
The former immigration minister admitted the last Conservative government “failed to deliver a strong NHS, a strong economy and, yes, the strong borders we promised”.
In language used by reformist British MPs, Mr Jenrick outlined five changes the party must make to stand up to Labor, including “securing our borders” and “defending our culture”. It will be done.
He said he would introduce a “de facto freeze on net immigration” and withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, an international treaty.
Mr Jenrick, who voted Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, promised to “finish the job” on Britain’s Bill of Rights started by Brexit and to increase defense spending, funded by cuts in foreign aid.
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Kemi Badenoch has promised fundamental reforms to the British state.
Speaking last, Mr Badenoch attacked what he termed “aggressive identity politics” and “socialism” and vowed to “reboot” the British state.
Speaking about his childhood in Nigeria, Badenoch said he valued “conservative freedom” and “saw what happens when a country loses sight of its principles.”
The former economy minister claimed Britain’s system of governance was “broken” and the party needed to return to “first principles” to fix it.
“If I become leader, I will immediately embark on a once-in-a-generation undertaking,” she said, pledging a “comprehensive plan to reprogram the British nation.”
She said her plans focused on international treaties, human rights law, reform of the Treasury, Bank of England, civil service and NHS.
She said her campaign was about “renewing” in time for the next general election, adding: “It’s in our power to make the 2030s a golden decade.”
