Kemi Badenoch, the former business secretary, is set to launch her Tory leadership campaign this morning as the race to replace Rishi Sunak reaches a critical juncture. Mrs. Badenoch will deliver a speech in which she plans to criticize Labour and call for change within the Conservative Party. As the bookmakers’ favorite to win the contest, she is expected to emphasize the need for the party to focus on renewal in order to be prepared to return to power.
The shadow communities secretary is one of six candidates vying for the leadership position, alongside James Cleverly, Mel Stride, Dame Priti Patel, Robert Jenrick, and Tom Tugendhat. Tory MPs are set to vote this week and next week to narrow down the field to four candidates, marking a crucial step in the leadership contest.
The House of Commons is resuming from its summer recess today, with Tory MPs scheduled to cast their first votes in the leadership contest on Wednesday, September 4. With a total of 121 Tory MPs, the candidates will face the challenge of securing enough support to move forward in the race.
The leadership campaign of Robert Jenrick received a boost as he garnered the endorsement of two more Conservative MPs. Newly-elected Peter Bedford and Edward Argar, the shadow justice secretary, have thrown their support behind Mr. Jenrick, bringing the total number of publicly declared backers to 16. With a competitive field of candidates, securing these endorsements is crucial to gaining momentum in the race.
Meanwhile, the issue of winter fuel payments for pensioners has sparked controversy, with Labour facing accusations of being “running scared” over the decision to scrap the payments for 10 million pensioners. The Tories and the Liberal Democrats are pushing for a vote on the matter, but the Government has indicated reluctance to hold a vote, raising concerns among opposition parties.
In the education sector, there have been discussions about the overhaul of the Ofsted ratings system. The former head of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman, admitted that one-word ratings provided simplicity and clarity but acknowledged that the system had its shortcomings. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson defended the decision to replace the one-word ratings with report cards, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive evaluation of school performance.
As the leadership contest heats up, candidates like James Cleverly are gearing up to deliver campaign speeches, outlining their vision for the future of the Conservative Party. Cleverly emphasizes the importance of the party returning to its conservative roots and presenting solutions to tackle pressing issues such as global migration and a crisis of confidence in capitalism.
With the timetable for the Tory leadership contest laid out, the upcoming votes by Tory MPs will be crucial in determining the final candidates who will make their case to party members at the Conservative Party conference. The race for leadership is intensifying, with each candidate vying for support and making their case for why they should lead the party.
In conclusion, the Tory leadership campaign is entering a critical phase as candidates like Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick vie for support and endorsements from fellow MPs. The issues surrounding winter fuel payments and the overhaul of the Ofsted ratings system highlight the challenges and debates within the political landscape. As the leadership contest progresses, the future direction of the Conservative Party hangs in the balance, with the outcome set to shape the party’s policies and priorities in the coming years.
