Robert Jenrick has slammed Liz Truss’ mini-Budget as “careless” and “unconservative” as he said the Tory party must accept its mistakes.
The shadow justice secretary told a packed-out room at the Conservative party conference ex-prime minister Ms Truss made “big mistakes”, adding the party must be “honest” if it is to rebuild public trust.
He added he thought the UK should aim for “net emigration” in order to “give the country some breathing space” in a far-reaching call that goes beyond Reform UK’s Nigel Farage’s policies.
But he dismissed any notion of leadership ambitions, telling his audience Kemi Badenoch would lead the Tories into the next election.
It comes after the shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride addressed a half-empty hall on Monday morning as the conference continued at Manchester Central Convention Centre.
The shadow chancellor pledged to offer young people a £5,000 “first job bonus” as he sought to position the Tories as the party of “fiscal responsibility”.
He also unveiled proposals to slash £47 billion of government spending if the party win power, and promised to abolish business rates for high street shops and pubs.
Cleverly fails to draw a crowd
Political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports…
James Cleverly has failed to draw a crowd for his conference speech, with the shadow housing secretary looking out at a sea of empty seats.
There is a man towards the back of the hall who is actually asleep, which sums up the mood in the room well.
Mr Cleverly has embarked on a rambling attack against Steve Reed, his government counterpart who he accused of being useless.
But even the lines he wants to land are drawing limited applause at best. It’s not a great look for the former future star of the Tory Party.
‘I was looking forward to holding Rayner to account,’ Cleverly says
James Cleverly has begun by taking a dig at recently resigned housing minister Angela Rayner.
“I was looking forward to holding Angela Rayner to account,” he said.
“I was looking forward to going toe-to-toe with a firebrand of the modern left. Instead I’m up against Steve Reed. Steve ‘I’m not Wikipedia’ Reed.
“No Steve, you’re not Wikipedia – Wikipedia can actually be useful,” he joked.
James Cleverly takes to stage at Conservative party conference
Sir James Cleverly is now addressing the conference.
James Cleverly due to speak shortly
Former home secretary and foreign secretary James Cleverly is due to speak at the Tory party conference in around ten minutes.
Tories would repeal Employment Rights Bill and repeal EU-era rules on bank accounts, Griffith says
The Conservatives would simplify tax and banking rules for businesses and contractors, the party’s shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith has said.
Mr Griffith told the party’s conference in Manchester the Tories would repeal the Employment Rights Bill, which it has voted against in Parliament, because it would “destroy” job opportunities for young people.
Meanwhile, companies will be able to rate HMRC’s performance.
The Tories will also “look again” at how to reform the IR35 tax system for contractors, and repeal EU-era rules on opening a business bank account.
He said: “There are far too many hurdles for small businesses to jump; red tape that steals away the precious time of those who run them.”
Jenrick heaps praise on Andy Burnham
Robert Jenrick has heaped praise on Andy Burnham as an example of when “great people who grip cities can actually drive change”.
“I think we’ve got to get out of London, get out of a suit, and take up everyday people’s issues. And yeah, Andy Burnham does do that bit, so fair dos to him”, he said.
“I want the Tory party to represent people in provincial Britain, to have a message for people in the Midlands, in the north. There’s no future for the party if it doesn’t do that.
“And I think there’s a lot in Manchester that we should celebrate.
“The night life in Manchester is better than the night life in London… they are building homes, and it’s an example of good regional government.”
The shadow justice secretary continued: “It’s an example to us all that politics matters. Great people who grip cities can actually drive change, and we want to see that in other parts of the country as well.”
Recap: Tories to ditch business rates for pubs and shops if they win election
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride has said the Tories would abolish business rates for pubs and shops if the party wins the next election.
“I can announce that as a direct result of getting public spending under control, a future Conservative government will completely abolish business rates for shops and pubs on our high street,” he said.
He added: “End of. Finished. Gone.”
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Burnham aims barb at Starmer’s planning reforms
Political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports…
Andy Burnham has said Sir Keir Starmer’s planning reforms will not get Britain “anywhere near” fixing the housing crisis.
The Greater Manchester mayor was speaking at an event on the fringe of the Conservative Party conference in the city.
Asked about the impact of the housing crisis, he said: “We’ve got to break the grip of the housing crisis, in my view, until you do the country’s not fully in control of its costs, and it’s actually a prudent thing to do, to be honest, to have a major program of building council homes, and to me, chasing things via the planning system or planning reform, I don’t think it gets you anywhere near where you need to be.
“It can help with the margins, but it doesn’t do the heavy lifting.”
Jenrick dispels leadership ambitions and says he thinks Badenoch will lead Tories into next election
Political correspondent Millie Cooke reports…
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has said he believes Kemi Badenoch will lead the Tories into the next election.
“There was a leadership election and the party made its choice,” he said.
“Kemi is our leader. I am in her shadow cabinet, I wouldn’t have chosen to serve in the shadow cabinet if I didn’t believe in Kemi, if I didn’t want her to succeed.
“I’m rooting for her and trying to support her in every way that I can. So that is what each and every one of us should be doing right now.”
Asked whether he would rule out a leadership bid if there was a vacancy, Mr Jenrick said: “Well, there isn’t a vacancy, and I don’t expect that there will be.“My expectation is that Kemi will lead his party into the next general election.”
Jenrick brands plans for pro-Gaza protests on October 7 ‘f***ing disgrace’
Political correspondent Millie Cooke reports…
Robert Jenrick has branded plans for pro-Gaza protests on October 7 a “f***ing disgrace”.
Speaking at a Spectator event at the Tory party conference in Manchester, he called for people to “show some common decency”.
“This is not Britain,” he said. “Britain is better than that. Think of your fellow citizens, British Jews, people who might be fearful and lonely and afraid right now, and call off those protests.
“If they won’t, then I do think we should take action, and if that requires a change in the law, then we should consider doing that, and consider the cumulative impact on communities of these protests.”
