“,”elementId”:”4330f550-838a-4966-9c6d-65920950b4bc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Jenrick has been widely-criticised for the campaign video in which he claimed special forces were acting like this through fear of detainees being released under European human rights law.
“,”elementId”:”11baff12-df63-456b-9e24-c8a63e4f1cbe”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Tugendhat said one of the soldiers featured in Jenrick’s video died shortly after the video was taken, and is therefore unable to defend himself from such accusations.
“,”elementId”:”a205edd6-749a-458f-a044-b8d108911b3d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Tugendhat said:
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What’s particularly upsetting is that video is using a piece of footage of some of the people I served with, one of whom there died shortly after that film was taken in an accident, and is not able to defend himself from the accusation that is effectively being levelled against him.
\n
I do not think we should be using footage of our special forces in operations.
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I would not put that video out. In fact I’d pull it down.
\n
“,”elementId”:”1aefb783-be7e-4a03-8301-3f6ec8ad2d4e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1841237145224429625″,”elementId”:”7d77e444-4fdc-4461-9c5a-1c6517a72cda”,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https://x.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1841237145224429625″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”
“So that is actually footage of somebody you knew?”
“Yes.”
Conservative leadership contender Tom Tugendhat reveals he knew one of the Special Forces soldiers who was used in a video released by leadership rival Robert Jenrick.#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/Wy5o6cQnjC
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) October 1, 2024
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James Cleverly has defended his call for the Tories to commit to abolishing stamp duty on homes
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In an interview with the Today programme, when it was put to him that this would cost around £10bn, he replied:
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At the last general election, my party – the Conservative party – was being criticised by the Labour party for taxing too much.
\n
If we don’t start cutting taxes, we stifle the economy and we will ultimately not be able to thrive as a country.
\n
“,”elementId”:”f9e02ca8-42f0-4967-ae64-e0e973014291″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
When Mishal Husain, the presenter, suggested that this was reminiscent of what Liz Truss was doing in her mini-budget, Cleverly replied:
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Your argument is because one of my predecessors proposed it, we can never propose it?
\n
This is why we have now got the highest tax burden since the war. Higher than many of our international competitors and high enough that the Labour party felt liberated to criticise us.
\n
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Some Tories at the conference have been calling for closer links with Reform UK.
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In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, insisted he was not interested. He said:
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There would be no deal with them, I wouldn’t trust them anyway, they have a pattern of behaviour pretending to be one thing and then when they’re in government being quite the opposite.
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And, frankly, what I’m trying to do with Reform is replace them.
\n
“,”elementId”:”81170536-b7ad-4a9c-9836-1eb3c2e88421″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Farage also said he thought the Tories had no chance of winning the next election.
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They all think with a new leader ‘it’ll all be fine, all the voters will come back to us’, and what they don’t understand is the Conservative brand is completely damaged, they have no chance of winning the next election.
\n
“,”elementId”:”d7f54073-10a5-4456-bc63-98d3d6b2c939″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Asked if he was proud of having helped to deliver Brexit, Farage said:
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Do I think getting back our independence was the right thing to do? You bet your life.
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Do I think we’ve handled it well? Good Lord, no.
\n
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Good morning. There are plenty of more important things in politics than who becomes the next Conservative leader – two thirds of voters don’t even care, according to Ipsos polling, including almost a third of people who backed the party at the election – but if you are interested in the outcome, today is the most important day in the contest so far. Over the past century most people elected Conservative leader have also been prime minister at some point, so it is normally a consequential choice.
“,”elementId”:”53d6ae40-8b1a-4787-90ae-9d9aa24f1b4c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Although the four-day conference has, in effect, been a long husting, this morning we’re getting the key face-off. All four candidates are delivering a 20-minute speech in the conference hall. A platform speech to a big audience is always a challenge, but the candidates face two particular difficulties this morning.
“,”elementId”:”d59c5a55-d816-4c8b-a48b-8e02563888b0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
First, they are going to have to say something new (no one is impressed by a speech they have heard before) even though they have spent the last three days constanly using their best soundbites, arguments, jokes and talking points. That won’t be easy.
“,”elementId”:”4cc88512-4362-47b6-839a-4fc907261d94″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
And, second, they have to make a pitch to two separate audiences. Conservative party members will have the final say. But next week the 121 Conservative MPs will vote in two more ballots will eliminate two candidates, before ballot papers with just two names go out to members. And the views and priorities of members and MPs are not wholly aligned; MPs tend to have a more acute sense of what will help them stay elected.
“,”elementId”:”97b203db-e250-48e6-9337-b0b50c307c48″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The four candidates have briefed out lines from what they plan to say, and here is snapshot.
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Robert Jenrick, who is now the favourite, is going to talk about building a new Conservative party. According to the Telegraph, he will say:
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The truth is this. If we’re to tackle the immense challenges we face, if we’re to restore the public’s trust, we must build something new.
\n
A new Conservative party. That is what I call for today. Nothing less than a new Conservative party built on the rock of our oldest values and best traditions. If I become our leader, this is what – together – we will build.
\n
“,”elementId”:”59c6f011-8603-46db-aa98-9c1b48b8ca25″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Jenrick’s platform is very rightwing in some respects (he is the only candidate fully committed to withdrawal from the European convention on human rights), but this is the language of Tony Blair, when he created New Labour.
“,”elementId”:”f9289292-02d6-43db-8779-a2aaf2016650″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Kemi Badenoch will say the Tories must be the party of “wealth creation”. She will say:
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\n
The Conservatives have to be the party of wealth creation. Wealth is not a dirty word. It supports jobs and families. It pays for our schools, for our health service. We should encourage it.
\n
“,”elementId”:”69e0a9aa-87fd-4b23-88fb-c1ffb7d2e201″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
James Cleverly will strike the most optimistic note, the advance briefing suggests. He will say:
“,”elementId”:”c533149f-af1f-476f-8e86-f4a475c3431a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
Let’s be enthusiastic; relatable; positive; optimistic.
\n
Let’s sell the benefits of a Conservative government with a smile. We will not win back voters by pretending to be something we’re not. We win back voters by being honest, by being professional, by being Conservative.
\n
“,”elementId”:”ba433981-e4ea-4d89-8eb2-29546bb2e65b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
And Tom Tugendhat will also adopt Blairite language, calling for a “New Conservative Revolution”, according to Politico’s London Playbook (which says the New is capped up in the briefing it had).
“,”elementId”:”e6c99242-3026-4f35-9e22-25178bfb6eee”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
There is more on what they will say in our overnight conference story, by Jessica Elgot.
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Here is the timetable for the day.
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10.30am: Richard Fuller, the Conservative chair, opens the morning session, and there is also a short speech from Stuart Andrew, the chief whip. Then we get into the main event of the conference: the leadership contenders’ beauty parade, where they all deliver 20-minute speeches in the conference hall.
“,”elementId”:”8c73eb25-fca0-46cd-a84c-82949cbe57d3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
10.45am: Tom Tugendhat speaks.
“,”elementId”:”520bc7ee-06a7-4f2e-aa6c-34e288b3ef84″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
11.10am: James Cleverly speaks.
“,”elementId”:”a3d9c262-2f9d-49f3-869b-c2950cf611e7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
11.35am: Robert Jenrick speaks.
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Noon: Kemi Badenoch speaks.
“,”elementId”:”5bb657c9-58c1-451e-8e77-85bf4bde57a3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line (BTL) or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.
“,”elementId”:”dd97c1c4-9caa-4e12-9d8e-2258e495d2d7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. I’m still using X and I’ll see something addressed to @AndrewSparrow very quickly. I’m also trying Bluesky (@andrewsparrowgdn) and Threads (@andrewsparrowtheguardian).
“,”elementId”:”d59dbd78-4f31-425b-b53c-8fe85bb855ab”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos (no error is too small to correct). And I find your questions very interesting too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.
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major events
It has been revealed that the four leadership candidates will not appear together at this morning's press conference. Relations between them are strained. in spite of “Yellow card” rule Although they were supposed to discourage personal attacks, most of them found ways to belittle their opponents insidiously, and some suggested they might not have all wanted to stand in line for a hilarious team photo. But they are expected to be seen in the hall together at the end when members sing the national anthem and conclude the meeting.
Prime Minister Tugendhat criticizes Mr Jenrick for controversial video showing a soldier he knew who is deceased and unable to defend himself
Aretha Adu
tom tugendhat Tory leadership rival Robert Jenrick used footage of Tugendat, a soldier who served in Afghanistan, to claim that British special forces were “killing terrorists, not capturing them”. He said this was “upsetting.''
Mr Jenrick has been widely criticized for a campaign video in which he claimed special forces were taking this action out of fear that detainees would be released under European human rights law.
Mr Tugendhat said he could not defend himself against such accusations because one of the soldiers who appeared in Mr Jenrick's video died shortly after the video was taken.
Mr Tugendhat told BBC Newsnight:
What's particularly frustrating is that the video uses footage of some of the people I served with. One of them died in an accident shortly after the film was shot, and is effectively unable to protect himself from the accusations being made. fought against him.
I don't think footage of special forces operations should be used.
I wouldn't publish that video. In fact, I would bring it down.
“So, is that actually footage of someone you knew?”
“yes.”
Conservative leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat has revealed he knew one of the Special Forces soldiers used in a video released by leadership rival Robert Jenrick.#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/Wy5o6cQnjC
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) October 1, 2024
\n\n”}}”>
“So, is that actually footage of someone you knew?”
“yes.”
Conservative leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat has revealed he knew one of the Special Forces soldiers used in a video released by leadership rival Robert Jenrick.#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/Wy5o6cQnjC
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) October 1, 2024
Wisely defends the call to abolish stamp duty on housing
James Cleverley He defended his call for the Conservative Party to commit to abolishing stamp duty on housing.
When asked in an interview with the Today program that this would cost around £10 billion, he replied:
During the last general election, my party, the Conservative Party, was criticized by Labor for paying too much tax.
If we don't start cutting taxes, our economy will stagnate and ultimately we won't be able to prosper as a country.
when Mishal Hussainthe presenter suggested that this reminded him of what Liz Truss does on her mini-budget. wisely Answered:
Is your argument that we can never propose it because one of my predecessors proposed it?
For this reason, we are currently facing the highest tax burden since the end of the war. It was higher than many of our international competitors and high enough that Labor felt free to criticize us.
Mr Farage says he wants to 'replace' rather than work with Tories, rejecting Conservative demands for a deal with Reform UK
Some Conservatives at the conference called for closer collaboration with Reform Britain.
In an interview with ITV's Good Morning Britain, nigel farageReform British leaders claimed they were not interested. he said:
There will be no deal with them and I don't trust them anyway. They pretend to be one thing, but when they're in government, they have the exact opposite pattern of behavior.
And, frankly, what I'm trying to do with reform is replace them.
Mr Farage also said he did not think the Conservatives had a chance of winning the next election.
They all think that with new leadership “everything will be fine, all the voters will come back to us”, but what they don't understand is that the Conservative brand is He is completely damaged and has no chance of winning the next election.
Asked if he was proud of having helped deliver Brexit, Mr Farage said:
Do you think it was the right thing to do to take back our independence? You are risking your life.
Do you think we coped well? No, no.
New Conservative Party, Wealth Creation Party or 'smile' politics? Conservative leadership candidates set out rival visions
good morning. There are more important things in politics than who will be the next Conservative leader – according to an Ipsos poll, a third of voters supported the Conservatives in the election, including almost a third of those who supported them. 2 doesn't even care — but if you do, you're interested in the outcome, but today is the most important day of the contest so far. Over the past century, most people elected to lead the Conservative Party have also served as Prime Minister at some point, and it is usually a consequential choice.
The four-day conference was essentially a long saga, but an important showdown will take place this morning. All four candidates gave 20-minute speeches in the chamber. Addressing large audiences is always difficult, but candidates face two challenges in particular this morning.
First, they have to say something new, even though they've spent the last three days always using the best soundbites, arguments, jokes, and talking points (not impressed by the speeches they've heard before). There is no one to accept it). It's not easy.
And second, you need to pitch to two separate audiences. Conservative members will have the final say. But next week, the 121 Tory MPs will vote two more times to eliminate the two candidates, after which ballot papers with only their names on them will be distributed to MPs. Moreover, the views and priorities of MPs and MPs are not completely aligned. Members of Congress tend to have a keener sense of what will help them stay elected.
The four candidates briefly explained what they planned to say. Here is that snapshot:
robert jenrickCurrently the front-runner, he is expected to talk about forming a new Conservative party. According to telegramhe says.
The truth is this. If we want to tackle the huge challenges we face and restore public trust, we must build something new.
new conservative party. That is my call today. A new Conservative party built on the rock of our oldest values and best traditions. If I become our leader, this is what we will build together.
Jenrick's platform is very right-wing in some respects (he is the only candidate fully committed to withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights), but it is similar to that of Tony when he founded New Labor. These are Blair's words.
Kemi Badenoch They will say that the Conservative Party must be a party of “wealth creation”. she would say:
The Conservative Party must be a wealth-creating party. Wealth is not a dirty word. Support work and family. It covers the costs of schools and medical services. We should encourage it.
James Cleverley From the most optimistic perspective, Pre-briefing suggests. he would say:
Let's be enthusiastic. Empathetic; positive; optimistic.
Let's sell the benefits of a Conservative government with a smile. We can't win back voters by pretending to be something we're not. We win back voters by being honest, by being professional and by being conservative.
and tom tugendhat He also said he would adopt Blairite language and call for a “new conservative revolution”. POLITICO'S LONDON STRATEGY (In the briefing, it was said that the news was hidden).
What they say is explained in detail in the Overnight Conference article by Jessica Elgot.
Here is the time schedule for the day.
10:30am: Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller will open the morning session, with a short speech from party leader Stuart Andrew. Then we get into the main event of the conference. A beauty parade of leader candidates. So everyone gives a 20-minute speech in a conference hall.
10:45am: Tom Tugendhat speaks.
11:10am: James Cleverley says.
11:35am: Robert Jenrick speaks.
noon: Kemi Badenoch speaks.
If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line (BTL) or message me on social media. I can't read every message on BTL, but if you include “Andrew” in your message, I'll search for posts containing that word, so it's more likely to show up.
If you want to make an urgent report, social media is the best place to go. I'm still using X, but the one addressed to @AndrewSparrow will appear soon. I've also tried Bluesky (@andrewsparrowgdn) and Threads (@andrewsparrowtheguardian).
It helps a lot when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos (no mistakes are too small to be corrected). And I think your question is also very interesting. I can't promise to reply to everything, but I'll try to reply as much as I can, either on BTL or occasionally on my blog.
