Cleverly ‘gains momentum’ after Tory leadership speeches
“The race to succeed Rishi Sunak was thrown wide open by a four-day event that has seen Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch stoke controversy, while Cleverly put in a popular performance and Tom Tugendhat remained the outsider. Cleverly, who came joint third in the second round of voting in the contest, clinched the biggest standing ovation in the auditorium, marking a strong end to the gathering during which he moved into second place in the betting markets, overtaking Badenoch. A former foreign secretary and home secretary who has also been party chair, Cleverly emphasised his experience and said it was not the time for an “apprentice” to lead the Tories. He kicked off with an apology, telling the party faithful he was “sorry on behalf of the parliamentary party — who let you down” and warned: “We have to be better, much better.”” – FT
- Shadow Home Secretary declared winner as Tory leadership rivals go head-to-head – The Sun
- Why the leadership race is Jenrick’s to lose – The Times
More:
- ‘We’re deluding ourselves’: inside Conservative Party conference – The Times
- Tories embrace life in opposition – FT
- How the Conservative candidates’ speeches compare – The Times
>Today:
Stephen Bush: Why this Tory beauty pageant shouldn’t bet on a Cameron-style turnaround
“Even among political obsessives and Tory members, I just don’t think the addresses are going to get the attention and the coverage it would need to change this contest, regardless of how terrific the execution may be. There are lots of reasons for that. One is that Cameron was an incredibly talented political performer and there aren’t many politicians who could do what he did in that fateful speech in 2005. But the other, as one shadow cabinet minister put it to me last night, is that the Conservative party is not looking for a Cameron, not really. This isn’t a party that is desperate to return to office. Yes, large numbers of Tories believe they will, thanks to Labour’s mistakes, come back to office sooner rather than later. But it does not have the same desperation to win that characterised the Tory party in 2010 or Labour in 2024. And that, as much as anything the candidates might fail to do today, is the party’s biggest problem.” – FT
- Jenrick shows peril of pretending to be Farage – Iain Martin, The Times
- The Tories are deluded to think they’ll be back in power in 2029 – Larry Elliott, The Guardian
- My generation would have killed for maternity pay – Jenni Murray, Daily Mail
Sketches:
- The Tory four fell flat, but the clap-o-meter pointed to Badenoch – Tom Peck, The Times
- Bins overflowing with Tory conference tat tell real story of this leadership race – Madeline Grant, Daily Telegraph
- The Tories’ Fearless Four battle on to the end – John Crace, The Guardian
Editorial:
>Yesterday:
‘Embarrassed’ Kuenssberg cancels Johnson interview after she sent him her briefing notes
“The BBC has been forced to cancel a Laura Kuenssberg interview with Boris Johnson after she sent him her briefing notes “by mistake”. Kuenssberg was due to meet the former Prime Minister for an interview to be broadcast on BBC One on Thursday night. But in a statement on X, she announced: “While prepping to interview Boris Johnson tomorrow, by mistake I sent our briefing notes to him in a message meant for my team. That obviously means it’s not right for the interview to go ahead. It’s very frustrating, and there’s no point pretending it’s anything other than embarrassing and disappointing, as there are plenty of important questions to be asked. But red faces aside, honesty is the best policy. See you on Sunday.”” – Daily Telegraph
Double-down or pivot to Labour: the choice facing Tory think-tanks
“Now, after 14 years of enjoying policy influence on successive administrations and access to ministers and advisers, many are having to recalibrate. Most see two possible options for moving forward: pivot to Labour to maintain relevance, or recommit to existing Conservative links in a bid to shape the party in opposition. Funding is a pressing consideration. Some warn that corporate sponsors are cutting back in order to support left-leaning outfits with links to Sir Keir Starmer’s administration. Others are confident wealthy Tory backers will ride to their rescue. Another factor that may impact each think-tank’s strategy is their structure. Some are charities that must technically remain independent and swerve party political activity; others are not-for-profit groups that can be more explicit about their political links.” – FT
Armed Forces ‘not up to defending Israel from missile attacks’
“Britain’s Armed Forces are unable to protect Israel from Iranian ballistic missile attacks, defence experts have claimed. RAF Typhoon jet fighters are thought to lack the weapons needed to repel an attack such as that launched by Iran on Tuesday when it fired nearly 200 long-range missiles in its biggest assault yet on Israel. It meant the UK was relegated to a supporting role, assisting the US in defending its ally. Sir Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, said that the UK’s Type-45 anti-missile destroyers would also struggle to respond, while sources claimed that the Royal Navy’s carrier strike groups did not have enough sailors to operate effectively in a war zone. Experts fear a lack of military investment is diminishing Britain’s ability to play a leading role in world events and warned that it left the country vulnerable.” – Daily Telegraph
- Israel counts cost of war amid fears that operation may widen – The Times
- Biden warns Jerusalem against striking Iranian nuclear sites – Daily Mail
- Military briefing: Can Israel’s land offensive ‘defeat’ Hizbollah? – FT
More:
- Bank of England governor warns of Middle East oil shock risk – The Guardian
- First charter flight carrying Britons out of Lebanon touches down in Birmingham – Daily Mail
Comment:
- Israel has humiliated Hezbollah, Iran, and the White House – Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, Daily Telegraph
- Iran may target US and British bases if they can’t get at Israelis – Michael Clarke, The Sun
- Putin’s missiles could obliterate London in minutes; that’s why we must build our own Iron Dome – Bob Seely, Daily Mail
Editorial:
- Tel Aviv must cultivate allies with a long-term strategy to counter Tehran’s growing nuclear threat – The Times
- Senior figures in Iran’s terror regime should be sleeping with one eye open – The Sun
- Starmer’s support for Israel is too ambivalent – Daily Telegraph
Alli under Lords investigation over register of interests…
“The Labour peer Waheed Alli is under investigation by a parliamentary watchdog over a potential breach of the code of conduct. Lord Alli is being investigated after a complaint that he has not registered his interests correctly. He was listed on the Lords standards commissioners’ website on Wednesday as being subject to an inquiry. “The fact that an investigation is taking place does not mean that the rules have been broken,” the notice stated. A Labour spokesperson said: “Lord Alli will cooperate fully with the Lords commissioner and he is confident all interests have been registered. We cannot comment further while this is ongoing.” It is understood that the investigation relates to a clerical element of some of Alli’s already declared interests, and not to donations.” – The Guardian
- Alli lent £62,000 to bail out peer in expenses scandal – The Times
More:
- Labour donor anticipates honour after backing party’s election campaign, wife claims – FT
- Mysterious talks between Alli and Syrian dictator beg the question: who the hell is this guy? – Dan Hodges, Daily Mail
…as Starmer pays back £6,000 for gifts received since becoming prime minister
“Sir Keir Starmer has repaid £6,000 worth of hospitality and gifts he received since entering No 10 but kept more than £40,000 worth of suits for himself, dresses for his wife and football tickets. The prime minister said he will cover the cost of six tickets to see Taylor Swift worth £3,398 and four tickets to Doncaster races, including hospitality, worth £1,939. He also repaid £839 for a clothing rental agreement with Edeline Lee, the designer whose clothes his wife, Victoria, wore to London Fashion Week and the Labour Party conference, along with one hour of hair and make-up. However, he will keep £32,200 worth of suits that were paid for by Lord Alli, a prominent Labour donor, along with £2,485 worth of glasses that were paid for by the peer. Lady Starmer will keep dresses worth £6,134 that were paid for by Alli.” – The Times
- Rayner caught in new row over Ibiza partying as she admits it was £836 freebie – Daily Express
- Why official register of MPs’ financial interests is now a must-read – The Guardian
- Reeves freebies exposed from £699 of Adele tickets to £360 flower show treat – Daily Express
Editorial:
- Sir Sponger isn’t cut from a different cloth – Daily Mail
Can Labour find a way out of its own Budget traps?
“Although Reeves sought to strike a cheerful tone at her party conference in Liverpool last month, the chancellor is facing an economy mired in low growth, postwar record-high levels of taxation, national debt at 100 per cent of GDP, dilapidated public services and creaking infrastructure. “The work of change is only just beginning and the stakes are high,” she warned delegates at a subdued Labour conference. “Trust is a fragile thing and we’ve seen the consequences when mainstream politics comes up short.” Labour may have ousted the Conservatives in a landslide victory, but Reeves understands well the consequences if she fails, with Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party waiting in the wings and the world looking on to see if a centre-left government can deliver.” – FT
- Brand new £1bn fleet of passenger trains in storage for years after union row over window wipers – Daily Mail
- Sizewell C nuclear project hit by fresh delays as investment talks drag on – FT
- Britain splashes out £1.5million on prison vehicle fleet as it helps launch brand new jail… in Albania – Daily Mail
More:
- Women who missed out on better state pensions given boost in battle for justice – Daily Express
- Rising cost of social services in England putting arts and youth services at risk, say councils – The Guardian
- Job advisers in hospitals to get mental health patients back to work – The Times
>Today: Judy Terry in Local Government: Labour is already letting Suffolk down
>Yesterday: Verity Barton’s International column: Australia shows the need to find the middle ground on tackling climate change
EU negotiations will be difficult, Starmer admits
“Sir Keir Starmer has admitted that negotiations with the European Union will be “difficult” while refusing to guarantee British marine conservation measures against Brussels’s demands for increased fishing access in return for easing trade friction. After a day of talks with the EU overshadowed by the Middle East crisis, the prime minister hailed a “reset” with the EU that will include his attendance at regular summits in Brussels. He was speaking during a trip to Brussels where he had his first bilateral meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president. Setting out “red lines” ruling out Britain rejoining the EU’s single market, returning to free movement rights for Europeans or signing up to Europe’s customs, Starmer conceded that trade-offs would have to be made.” – The Times
- Migrant Channel crossings fall to lowest in four years in boost for Home Secretary – The Sun
Comment:
- Immigration is Labour’s bogeyman, and it’s not going away anytime soon – Esther Krakue, Daily Express
Editorial:
- Prime Minister right to look for pragmatic co-operation – The Times
Khan’s globe-trotting £132,000-a-year London ‘night czar’ Lamé quits
“Sadiq Khan’s £132,000-a-year London ‘night czar’ Amy Lamé has quit after nearly eight years in the job. The comedian will stand down from her role at City Hall at the end of this month, saying it was the ‘right time to move on’. However, it comes after the night czar job, created by Mr Khan in 2016, sparked anger from critics. Earlier this year, Ms Lamé insisted she was worth her six-figure salary despite receiving backlash over City Hall-funded trips to Australia, Italy and Spain. Industry experts also previously questioned whether she was ‘value for money’ after figures showed London’s nightlife was falling behind cities such as Liverpool and Birmingham. Nevertheless, Ms Lamé will walk out with the Mayor of London’s thanks ringing in her ears.” – Daily Mail
>Today: Calum Davies in Comment: Grassroots Tories in Wales oppose devolution, and it’s time our party caught up
News in Brief:
- How Cleverlymania took over the Tories – Tom McTague, UnHerd
- Can Tories trust Tom Tugendhat to deliver? – Marc Sidwell, CapX
- How Miliband plans to conjure electricity out of nothing – Matt Ridley, The Spectator
- New reports on Labour and political donations miss the point – Christopher Snowdon, The Critic
- Israel has won several remarkable military victories – Andrew Marr, New Statesman
