The four Conservative leadership candidates each sought to charm members with 20-minute speeches setting out their vision for the party.
Tom Tugendhat
Tugendhat’s speech was filled with references to his military experience to illustrate how he can “lead” and not “manage”, as his rivals would, in the Conservative fightback against Keir Starmer’s “bleak outlook”, which he says is already hurting the UK. He remains hopeful for the party’s future and thanked the membership for converting his disappointment at the election results into optimism, leaving him determined. But he said the future would only bright if he can end “Westminster’s political games … petty point-scoring and self-service”. In a dig at his rivals, the former serviceman said illegal migration has soared “not because of foreign courts” but because of visas. Taking a less critical tone, he said immigration can only be fixed by filling “the gaps in education and skills, in transport and in housing, so that we can recruit at home and not abroad”. Most memorable quote “I know what leadership really is. Before I stood for parliament, I was a soldier, I served our country and I faced our enemies. I know what leadership demands when everything else has been cut away and there’s nothing left. Character is what remains in Afghanistan and in Iraq … Leadership is not about empty promises … Leadership is about making choices that serve our country and our people best.” Worst joke “I will defeat Labour and lead us back to power in five years’ time. We all know that this country cannot afford Labour. You can’t afford Labour. I can’t afford Labour. Lord Alli can’t afford Labour.” Delivery Tugendhat had an awkward start as he tried to get the audience going, saying, “Good morning, conference, let’s try that again”, before leading into a low-energy speech that may have been too dreary to inspire members.
James Cleverly
Cleverly urged the membership to choose the candidate who already has the experience to do the job “from day one” and is not focused on being the leader but rather making tough decisions, repeatedly insisting “now is not the time for an apprentice”. He used the difficulties he’s faced in life – growing up as a “mixed-race kid in Lewisham” before failing to be sent to Baghdad or Basra in the reserves – to showcase his ability to help the Tories succeed by being “for stuff”. He made good use of his speech to highlight his professional achievements, taking credit for speedy candidate selections in the run-up to the 2019 general election and apparently being solely responsible for slashing immigration under Rishi Sunak’s regime. Most memorable quote “If you want a winner, choose one … and choose the candidate who Starmer, Farage and Davey fear the most because I will not accept the status quo. I will not accept defeatism and I will not accept defeat.” Worst joke “They [Labour] are completely out of their depth, and we need to be ready and we need to hold them to account, not next year or in 2030 or after that but now. And we know the Lib Dems won’t do it. They’re too wet. In the case of Ed Davey, he’s soaking wet.” Delivery Cleverly stood out from the start, opting against the awkward greetings favoured by his rivals, instead posing the big question of the Tory party’s purpose. He then issued a contrite apology to members on behalf of his parliamentary colleagues, for letting them down, exuding confidence throughout, while relating a story about his life and vision for the party.
Robert Jenrick
Jenrick said there were things to be proud of after 14 years of the Tories in government, but said they failed to deliver a strong NHS, a strong economy and a strong border. He vowed to end illegal migration and repeated his call for Britain to leave the ECHR under a new great reform act that will repeal Tony Blair’s Human Rights Act. He also promised to stand up for British culture, with references to the RAF choosing pilots based on race and gender and a classroom showing a cartoon of Muhammad. Most memorable quote “If we are going to change this party to restore the trust and the confidence of the people, if we are going to tackle together the immense challenges our country faces, we are going to have to build something new – a new Conservative party.” Worst joke? On Keir Starmer: “Imagine how cowardly you’d have to be to rob poor pensioners to placate your union paymasters. He will take the knee, but he will never take the stand. He doesn’t even take the stand at the football any more.” Delivery Jenrick has been described as an orator and had clearly learned his speech by heart, but he struggled to come across as authentic, delivering an address that was repetitive of the rhetoric he has rehashed since quitting his short stint as an immigration minister.
Kemi Badenoch
Badenoch said the system was broken and told Tories it’s “time to tell the truth”. She criticised the last government for not defending capitalism and its record on net zero, noting the last Tory regime “stopped acting like Conservatives”, setting a target with no plan to meet it. She criticised those who claim she “likes to fight”, insisting “she’s not afraid to”, given her difficult background. But she did call for a fight against identity politics and likened society now to the “1970s [where] we face a battle of ideas against the left and its desire for ever greater social and economic control”. Most memorable quote “I’m sad to be in opposition, but there’s a part of me that’s excited, because opposition is an opportunity – an opportunity to make Angie uncomfortable, to make Rachel wriggle and make Starmer sweat. We are going to have fun. They thought that all they had to do was get us out. But they don’t have a plan. They are not up to the job. They will let our country down and we must be ready to replace them.” Worst joke? “Ministers need to be able to make decisions that aren’t endlessly challenged in the courts. If people don’t like those decisions, there are elections. If the law says the government can’t deport a foreign child abuser, then the law is an ass.” Delivery Badenoch looked slightly awkward on stage and appeared to use much of her speech to “talk the country down”, which is what all of her rivals said they didn’t want to do. The speech was quite downbeat, striking a tone that sounded like a disappointed teacher speaking to her brightest student who’d slipped down the rankings.