Nominations in the contest to become the next Conservative Party leader have opened today with one contender making a jump-start on his competition.
In the race to replace Rishi Sunak, James Cleverly became the first Tory hopeful to declare his candidacy in the hopes of “uniting the Conservative Party and overturning Starmer’s loveless landslide”.
In a slick video released on social media, the Shadow Home Secretary said he was running to “restore the confidence of the British people in us as a party” and “re-establish our reputation” as a party that “helps grow the economy, helps people achieve their goals, their dreams and their aspirations”.
However, Cleverly has acknowledged he is not the only hopeful giving the run for leadership “serious thought”.
Other potential leadership contenders include shadow communities secretary Kemi Badenoch, former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride, former home secretary Dame Priti Patel, shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
Under plans drawn up by the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs and the party board, the Tories will elect their new leader on November 2.
Nominations will open on Wednesday evening and close in the afternoon on July 29.
Sunak, who will remain acting leader until a successor is appointed, has given his backing to the plans and said a “smooth and orderly transition” is in the “national interest”.
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Should we have a referendum on our membership of the ECHR? – VOTE IN OUR POLL
Should we have a referendum on our membership of the ECHR? – VOTE IN OUR POLL
PA
During his maiden speech in the House of Commons, Nigel Farage called for a referendum on leaving the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The Clacton MP said that the ECHR had “now completely outlived its usefulness”.
He said leaving the ECHR was the only way to actually stop small boat Channel crossings.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHOULD THERE BE A REFERENDUM ON LEAVING THE ECHR? VOTE IN OUR POLL HERE
WATCH: Jonathan Gullis says he will be backing Priti Patel in the leadership race
WATCH: Cleverly explains why he is running to lead the Conservative Party
I’m running to be Conservative Party Leader. Here’s why 👇 pic.twitter.com/6eFPMocIyc
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) July 23, 2024
Shadow Welsh secretary accuses Labour of ‘taking Wales for granted’
The new shadow secretary of state for Wales has accused Labour of “taking Wales for granted” after his party, the Conservatives, were wiped out there.
Lord Davies of Gower, who sits in the House of Lords, has taken on the shadow Cabinet role after the Tories lost every MP in Wales.
Lord Davies told peers that Wales was only named once in the King’s Speech and urged the Government to match the previous Government’s commitments to the Welsh people.
He said: “Wales was only named once and that was in reference to the Government’s plan to make a Council of the Nations and Regions.
“And sadly, I believe this could well be a reality check for what is to come, that is Labour once again taking Wales for granted.”
He claimed that the difference in delivery between the last Government and the current one “seems very stark”.
He asked: “Who was it that delivered an additional £18billion, the biggest block grant in the history of devolution to Wales? It was the Conservatives.
“Who delivered two freeports and two investment zones for Wales? The Conservatives.
“Who delivered two cuts to national insurance to help Welsh workers? The Conservatives.
“And who protected more than 100,000 jobs from being lost with an ambitious furlough scheme? Yes, it was the Conservatives.”
Starmer faces PMQs grilling after rebellion over two-child benefit cap
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer PA
Sir Keir Starmer faces a Commons grilling in his first Prime Minister’s Questions amid backbench unease over a vote on the two-child benefit cap that saw him suspend seven Labour MPs.
The PM will be quizzed from the Government benches by MPs for the first time since entering No10 after stripping Labour rebels of the whip for backing an SNP motion to scrap the welfare measure.
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, ex-business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain and Zarah Sultana have been suspended from the parliamentary party.
Braverman tipped to launch bid for Tory leadership
Braverman tipped to launch bid for Tory leadership
PA
Suella Braverman has been tipped to launch a bid for the Tory leadership as she warned the Tories must not become “a collection of fanatical, irrelevant, centrist cranks”.
On Tuesday, she used a slot guest-hosting a radio programme to argue that “we had quite a centrist Conservative agenda” and that “identity politics got out of control” under Sunak.
“We need to be a party that’s firm and credible on immigration,” she said.
“We need to give some hope to the British people on taxation, robust on security and defence, and a real champion for common-sense British values. None of this divisive identity politics and woke nonsense. It really frustrates me that that has happened on our watch.”
Braverman later dodged a caller’s question on whether she would throw her hat in the ring.