Kemi Badenoch has sparked controversy after describing maternity pay as “excessive” and calling for greater personal responsibility.
In an interview with Times Radio, the Tory leadership hopeful argued that government intervention on issues like the maternity benefit had gone “too far”, placing a burden on businesses.
Ms Badenoch’s remarks have drawn fierce criticism, with union bosses and campaigners condemning them as “out of touch” and “another example of dog-whistle politics”.
Reacting to the comments, rival candidate Tom Tugendhat said he did not know the context of Ms Badenoch’s claims but that it is important for women to have the ability to choose, while Robert Jenrick said the party should be “firmly on the side of parents and working mums”.
It comes after the shadow secretary defended her claim that there has been a recent rise in the number of migrants coming to the UK who “hate Israel”.
She said in a newspaper op-ed on Sunday that migrants’ “feet may be in the UK, but their heads and hearts are still back in their country of origin.” But when she was asked on Sky News if she was referring to Muslim immigrants, Ms Badenoch disagreed.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
Key Points
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Badenoch suggests maternity pay may be too generous
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Unions condemn Badenoch’s ‘out of touch’ remarks on maternity pay
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Campaigners hit out at Badenoch’s ‘damaging’ remarks
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Kemi Badenoch defends ‘migrants hate Israel’ claim
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Duffield accuses Starmer of having a problem with women
Mordaunt vows to ‘restore soul’ of Conservative party
16:55 , Salma Ouaguira
Penny Mordaunt said she will lead work to “restore the soul” of the Conservative Party and win back power.
After an introduction from party chairman Richard Fuller, during a session focusing on why the party lost the general election and how it can win again, Ms Mordaunt said: “The chairman has asked me to help us as a party reconnect with those that we serve and protect.”
The former leader of the Commons said that less than two per cent of the UK population are members of any political party.
Ms Mordaunt added: “So we will need the largest outreach programme any party has undertaken, and that is what I will prepare.
“Will you help restore the soul of this party, to place Britain’s values back at the heart of everything we do to earn back trust, approval from the public, and perhaps even pride? For without that, no policy or personality will matter.
“Do this well, then when the nation goes looking for those in tune with its values again, we will be there.”
Labour: Badenoch’s maternity row proves Tories are unserious
16:45 , Salma Ouaguira
Labour has hit out at Kemi Badenoch over her claims that current maternity pay is “excessive”.
Ellie Reeves, Labour’s chairwoman, said: “It is symptomatic of the Conservative Party as a whole that this is the kind of intervention that one of their leadership contenders is coming out with.
“The Tories and their continuity candidates are completely unserious about the problems they inflicted on the country over 14 years of chaos and decline.”
Mordaunt: Tories lost because of lack of belief in values
16:35 , Salma Ouaguira
It has been more than two months since the Tories’ devastating result at the general election, but the blame game continues.
Former MP Penny Mordaunt has weighted in claiming that the Conservative Party lost the election because it no longer appeared to share a belief in values such as “courage, honour and trust”.
Speaking on the first day of the party’s conference in Birmingham, Ms Mordaunt listed a series of values that she believed the party and the country historically shared.
She said: “We value courage, endeavour, enterprise, service and duty, creativity and discovery, competence and skill, grit, determination, kindness, tolerance and freedom, cheerfulness, honour, valour, graft, integrity, trust.
“It was our belief in those values that enabled our greatest deeds and victories, and not just those at the ballot box.
“It was the British people’s belief in those values that removed us from government three months ago.”
Tory member warns party about ‘scale of challenge’
16:25 , Salma Ouaguira
Lord Daniel Hannan has urged Conservative Party activists to “make no mistake about the scale of the challenge” they face.
The peer began his Conservative Party Conference speech in Birmingham by reciting a verse from The Storm Cone by Rudyard Kipling: “This is the midnight, let no star delude us. Dawn is very far. This is the tempest long foretold, slow to make head but sure to hold.”
He said: “My friends, let’s be in no doubt about the magnitude of the challenge we face. We aspire to be the national party. It’s been our privilege to speak to and for the soul of the United Kingdom and yet in large parts of the nation we have no parliamentary representation.
“In one election we lost two thirds of our MPs, we lost all of our red wall seats, we now have one Conservative in the whole of the North East. We don’t have a single Conservative MP in Wales. Make no mistake about the scale of the challenge.”
He also told delegates and activists on Sunday: “There has not been a massive shift in the cultural values of the nation. I don’t know of anyone who voted to change governments because they thought that taxes and spending were too low and needed to go up a bit.
“I don’t know of anyone who voted for a change because they thought that prison sentencing was too lenient, sorry, was too tough and needed to be made more lenient. I don’t know of anyone who voted for that change because they believed that our border controls were too strict and that we needed more illegal immigration.”
Tory chairman brands Reeves ‘patron saint of misery’
16:24 , Salma Ouaguira
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been branded the “patron saint of misery” by Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller.
He told the party conference: “The Labour Party believe that a strong economy will come from the fortune-telling powers of the blessed Rachel, the patron saint of misery.
“But the truth is that Rachel Reeves is creating uncertainty that is harming growth, not helping.
“Will she approve new employment laws that could throttle small businesses? With Rachel Reeves, we don’t know.
“Will she stop families passing on their home, or their business, or their farm to their children? With Rachel Reeves, we don’t know.
“Will she hike taxes on pensions, on schools and on wealth creators? With Rachel Reeves, we don’t know. But here’s what we do know: with Rachel Reeves, pensioners freeze.”
Tories slammed for being ‘too divided’ and ‘self-serving’ during election
16:10 , Salma Ouaguira
Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller has said that Conservative MPs appeared too divided and appeared self serving before they were defeated at the general election earlier this year.
Speaking from the main stage on the first day of the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Mr Fuller said he had been receiving feedback from members after the election. He said: “A leading theme is the performance of our parliamentary party following the election victory in 2019.
“You told us, as voters have told us, that the parliamentary party was divided, that we appeared self serving and self indulgent.
“You told us, as the voters told us, that our policies too frequently lack grip on the issues at hand, and that we had lost sight of the Conservative values that should have been our guide.
“And that the absence of clear sight to our principles encouraged factionalism across the parliamentary party, hampering any leaders’ focus on competent delivery, on the priorities that had drawn so many people to vote Conservative.”
Mr Fuller added: “I was a member of that parliament. I am accountable for those assessments of our performance. I am profoundly sorry to you, the members of the Conservative Party.”
Former Tory mayor: Conservativism still really strong
16:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Conservativism is “still really strong”, the former mayor Andy Street said, as he argued there was support for a “national fightback” in the West Midlands.
On the first day of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, the former West Midlands mayor said: “I so wish the context of today was different.
“I dearly wanted to speak to you as the West Midlands mayor, not the former mayor of the West Midlands, I wanted to show you that moderate Conservatism is still a winning force, sadly that was not to be.”
“Take heart ladies and gentleman, there’s no debate, Conservatism is still really strong,” he added.
Mr Street went on to say: “Be sure, there is clear evidence, that there is the support here on the ground for the national fightback to begin here in the West Midlands.”
Pictured: Tugendhat with Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen
15:50 , Salma Ouaguira
Badenoch team says ‘selective quotes’ used to attack her
15:45 , Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch’s campaign team has claimed that rivals are using “selective quotes” to undermine the Tory leadership hopeful’s position in the Conservative leadership contest.
A spokesperson close to the shadow secretary said: “We need to be better, we need our politics to be better. Kemi obviously supports maternity pay and was making a case for lower regulation – something she always aimed for as business secretary.
“For other leadership campaigns to be seeking to use selective quotes from an interview to score political hits, shows they’re still wedded to the old politics and simply aren’t serious about getting back to government.”
Sunak to address Tory conference for first time after defeat
15:35 , Salma Ouaguira
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak will deliver a speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham today at 5.20pm.
This marks the party leader first major address to the party since the bruising general election loss in July.
His speech is expected to reflect on the challenges the Conservatives face in rebuilding after the defeat, while also addressing the future direction of the party.
The speech is part of a drinks reception with party members, but The Independent’s political team will bring you the latest updates from the conference.
Tugendhat and Jenrick push back on Badenoch’s maternity pay claims
15:21 , Salma Ouaguira
Fellow Conservative leadership contenders have distanced themselves from Kemi badenoch’s controversial comments about maternity pay.
Both Tom Tugendhat and Robert Jenrick emphasised the importance of supporting working women.
At an event with the Conservative Women’s Organisation, Mr Tugendhat claimed that while he wasn’t aware of the full context of Ms Badenoch’s remarks, he stressed the importance of women having the freedom to choose.
“It’s not for me to tell you whether you should go to work or stay at home or which job to do or how many kids to have, that’s none of my business,” he said. “What’s my business as a politician is to make sure that you have the support for choice.”
Robert Jenrick directly challenged Ms Badenoch’s stance, stating that the Conservative Party should be “firmly on the side of parents and working mums.”
Speaking at a fringe event, Mr Jenrick said that the UK has a low maternity pay compared to other OECD nations, adding: “I think the Conservative Party should be firmly in the side of parents and working mums who are trying to get on.”
Jenrick pokes fun at ‘Hamas are terrorists’ hoodie
15:20 , Salma Ouaguira
TUC condemns Badenoch’s ‘out of touch’ remarks on maternity pay
15:08 , Salma Ouaguira
Unions have hit back at Conservative leadership contender Kemi Badenoch after she branded UK maternity pay “excessive” claiming it has “gone too far”.
In a sharp response, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak criticised Ms Badenoch and accused the Tories of being disconnected from the realities facing working families.
The union boss said: “The Conservative Party leadership candidates are hopelessly out of touch and seem to be competing with one another to be the most unkind and nasty.
“Maternity pay in the UK is lower than in many other economies – forcing too many mums back from leave early.
“The Tories don’t appear to have any solutions for this country. All they have left is performative cruelty and division.”
Pictured: Fake tan called ‘TUGEND-TAN’ sold at Tory conference
15:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Sunak says Conservatives should ‘learn the lessons’ of election defeat
14:40 , Salma Ouaguira
Rishi Sunak has said the Conservatives should “learn the lessons” of their general election defeat and “reflect” on their time in government as their conference gets under way.
Mr Sunak described this year as a “difficult one” for the party as “too many good Conservatives have lost their seats”, in a piece for The House magazine.
He said he “will always be sorry” that “he could not deliver the results that everyone’s efforts deserved”, in the article at the start of his final conference as leader.
The contest to replace Mr Sunak will feature prominently at the gathering in Birmingham as Robert Jenrick, Tom Tugendhat, Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly are all vying for the leadership.
Writing in the magazine, Mr Sunak described the conference as “important moment for our party”.
He added: “This is our first conference in opposition since 2009. Of course, we need to learn the lessons of our defeat: we did not get everything right in government – no government ever does – and we do now need to reflect on that. But we should not forget what we have achieved since 2010.”
Exclusive: Families in fury as Labour set to reject review of indefinite jail terms
14:20 , Salma Ouaguira
Families are warning the government will have “blood on its hands” if it turns its back on 3,000 prisoners as Labour is set to reject a review of cruel indefinite jail terms, The Independent has learned.
Among those with no sign of being released is James Lawrence who has served almost 18 years after being originally sentenced to just eight months and Thomas White who was sentenced to 12 years for stealing a phone.
Calls for these prisoners to be resentenced have only grown in light of the early release of thousands of prisoners to ease over-crowding. Indefinite stences were scrapped in 2012 amid human rights concerns, but not for those already detained.
Our crime correspondent Amy-Clare Martin has the full story:
Families’ fury as Labour set to reject review of indefinite jail terms
Kemi Badenoch has said she does believe in maternity pay
14:16 , Holly Evans
Conservative leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has said she believes in maternity pay after appearing to suggest it was “excessive” earlier on Sunday.
In an interview with Times Radio presenter Kate McCann, the MP described statutory maternity pay as “a function of tax”, adding: “Tax comes from people who are working, we’re taking from one group of people and giving to another. This, in my view, is excessive.”
In a post on X hours later, alongside a clip of the interview, she claimed she was referring to the burden of regulation on businesses.
She said: “Contrary to what some have said, I clearly said the burden of regulation on businesses had gone too far… of course I believe in maternity pay!
“Watch the clip for the truth. Back to conference…”
Contrary to what some have said, I clearly said the burden of regulation on businesses had gone too far… of course I believe in maternity pay! Watch the clip for the truth.
Back to conference… pic.twitter.com/kGsOpMCSpu
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) September 29, 2024
Jenrick defends £75,000 donation from fitness company
14:04 , Salma Ouaguira
Robert Jenrick has come under fire after accepting a £75,000 donation from The Spott Fitness, a company that received money from a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
The money, split into three £25,000 instalments in July, raised questions about the ultimate source of the funds.
As first revealed by Tortoise Media, The Spott Fitness reportedly received a loan from a BVI-based firm, sparking concerns over transparency and the influence of offshore money in UK politics.
Despite the criticism, the Tory leadership hopeful defended the contribution, insisting the donation was “perfectly legal and valid”.
Appearing on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Jenrick downplayed the controversy, adding: “The Spott Fitness, as I understand it, is a fitness company that operates in the UK.”
Pictured: Thatcher mugs sold at Conservative conference
14:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Anti-corruption charity welcomes hospitality rules change
13:50 , Salma Ouaguira
Transparency International UK has welcomed the government’s proposal to change the rules on how ministers have to declare hospitality they have received.
It comes after the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden announced that a so-called “Tory loophole” where ministers did not have to declare tickets for events while all other MPs did will be shut down.
Rose Whiffen, senior research officer at the campaign group, said: “We welcome this move to end the two tier system that has meant ministers, those closest to power, are able to provide less information on their hospitality and provide it less frequently than their backbench colleagues.
“Additionally to show his commitment to improving trust, the prime minister should issue his ministerial code with promised changes to strengthen the independent adviser’s role as well as the Nolan principles featuring front and centre in the foreword.”
Poll: Tories face crisis of confidence across key demographics
13:35 , Salma Ouaguira
The Conservative Party is grappling with widespread public disillusionment, a recent YouGov poll has revealed.
According to the survey, the majority of every key social and political group now holds a negative opinion of the Tories.
Even traditionally strong bases of support are turning away, with 55 per cent of over 65s and 56 per cent of Leave voters expressing dissatisfaction with the party.
Among potential voters, the outlook is equally bleak. Just 26 per cent of 2024 Reform UK voters, only 11 per cent of Liberal Democrats and a mere four per cent of Labour supporters view the Tories in a positive light.
Campaigners condemn Badenoch’s comments on maternity leave
13:23 , Salma Ouaguira
Joeli Brearley, founder of campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, said Kemi Badenoch’s comments about statutory maternity pay were “yet another example of dog-whistle politics”.
She said: “It is absolute nonsense to suggest that businesses are closing because of statutory maternity pay.
“Statutory maternity pay is not a burden to business as they recoup the cost from HMRC. Small business recoup 100 per cent of the cost plus three per cent in small employer’s relief.
“Statutory maternity pay is absolutely vital. Most families need two incomes to survive, and so without SMP, women would be forced to return to work almost immediately after giving birth.
“Maternity leave has been proven to substantially decrease infant mortality, whilst improving the mental and physical health of women.
“Conservatives are meant to be the party of family – this statement from Badenoch is yet another example of dog-whistle politics that would actively damage families, businesses and society as a whole.”
ANALYSIS | Lack of protests show people don’t care about the Tories
13:20 , Archie Mitchell
When the Conservative Party gathered in Manchester last autumn for Rishi Sunak’s last conference as prime minister, the streets were lined with demonstrators protesting the event,our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports from the Tory conference.
Fast-forward a year, and the decline in relevance of the Tories is all too evident.
Walking from a nearby hotel to the party conference venue, there was not a demonstrator to be seen.
It shows that, while the public may still be angry with the party, now that it is no longer in government they simply don’t care.
And, in stark contrast with Labour’s jam-packed gathering last week in Liverpool, there are still rooms available in hotels around the venue.
EXCLUSIVE | Tories only have themselves to blame for terrible election defeat, warns Ben Houchen
13:10 , Salma Ouaguira
One of Rishi Sunak’s most influential critics has admitted that had the party and country listened to the then prime minister it could have avoided calamitous defeat at the general election.
Lord Ben Houchen, the Mayor of Teesside and only leading Tory left in power, insists his party “absolutely can win in five years” but warns Conservatives should not try to become a version of Reform to do it.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
Tories only have themselves to blame for terrible election defeat, warns Ben Houchen
In pictures: Tory contenders display campaign merchandise
12:55 , Salma Ouaguira
Jenrick: System of maternity pay is fair
12:53 , Salma Ouaguira
Robert Jenrick said the UK has a “fair system of maternity pay” when it was put to him that the country has one of the lowest rates in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).
Asked for his views on maternity pay on Times Radio, he said: “Well, we have a fair system of maternity pay.
“Of course, there are always ways in which we could seek to improve, but it’s a balance, isn’t it?
“Because we’ve got to ensure that working mums and families have the support they need, but also that we can have the right labour laws in this country so that we maintain one of our great strengths as a country, which is a flexible labour market, which has enabled us to have record levels of employment, even in bad times.”
His comments come after Kemi Badenoch said people need to have “more personal responsibility” as she called maternity pay “excessive”
What to expect form the Conservative Party conference?
12:45 , Salma Ouaguira
The Conservative Party conference is set to kick off in Birmingham at 2.30pm, with the leadership contest taking centre stage in the coming days.
On Monday, candidates Tom Tugendhat and Kemi Badenoch will field questions from party members on the main stage, while James Cleverly and Robert Jenrick will do the same on Tuesday.
Wednesday morning will feature speeches from all candidates as they vie for support.
Following the conference, MPs will narrow the field to two candidates on 9 and 10 October.
Conservative Party members will then cast their votes, with the winner expected to be announced on 2 November.
EXCLUSIVE | Tories facing ‘dire’ finances as donors switch to Farage and Starmer
12:35 , Salma Ouaguira
Donors and businesses are turning their backs on the Tories for Labour and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK as the party enters its conference with question marks over its finances.
Insiders have told The Independent that a number of red flags have been raised in preparation for the first annual conference since the historically poor general election defeat in July.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
Tories facing ‘dire’ finances as businesses and donors switch to Farage and Starmer
Voters gave up on Tory ‘bickering’, says party leadership hopeful
12:20 , Salma Ouaguira
Voters gave up on the Conservatives’ “bickering”, James Cleverly has said during his campaign to become the party’s leader.
The shadow home secretary, who first became a minister during Theresa May’s premiership, claimed as soon as his party had named a new prime minister, “there were people within the party who set about removing them”.
After David Cameron’s resignation following the 2016 Brexit referendum, four Conservative MPs served as prime minister – Mrs May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
The shortest among their terms in office was Ms Truss’s, who stayed in Number 10 for fewer than 50 days.
Speaking to Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Cleverly said: “Look, when the voters tell you something, you should listen.
“The British voters told us not that they wanted a Labour government, in fact, in many instances they told us they didn’t want a Labour government.
“But what they did tell us is they wanted us out of office. And we have got to listen to that. We have got to respond to that.
“There’s no point getting angry with the voters. We certainly shouldn’t imply or say that they were wrong. Voters are never wrong.
“Sometimes politics is brutal but it’s beautiful.”
Pictured: Conservative Party conference kicks off
12:10 , Salma Ouaguira
Badenoch: Statutory maternity pay is excessive
12:05 , Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch has labelled the current statutory maternity pay as “excessive” and called for greater personal responsibility.
In an interview with Times Radio, she highlighted the variation in maternity pay based on employment but claimed that statutory maternity pay is fundamentally tied to taxation.
She added: “Tax comes from people who are working, we’re taking from one group of people and giving to another. This, in my view, is excessive.
“Businesses are closing. Businesses are not starting in the UK, because they say that the burden of regulation is too high.”
Put to her that she is saying maternity pay is “excessive”, Ms Badenoch said: “I think it’s gone too far, too far the other way, in terms of general business regulation, we need to allow businesses, especially small businesses, to make more of their own decisions.
“The exact amount of maternity pay, in my view, is neither here nor there. We need to make sure that we are creating an environment where people can work and people can have more freedom to make their individual decisions.”
She added: “We need to have more personal responsibility. There was a time when there wasn’t any maternity pay and people were having more babies.”
Robert Jenrick squirms over support for Donald Trump in US election
11:50 , Salma Ouaguira
Robert Jenrick squirmed as he was challenged over his past support for Donald Trump, saying it is “natural” for a Conservative to lean towards Republican candidates.
The Tory leadership contest frontrunner was noticeably uncomfortable when the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg challenged him over his past support for the bombastic ex-US president.
He avoided using Trump’s name when repeatedly asked the question instead reverting to historic links between the Tories and Republicans in the US.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:
Robert Jenrick squirms over support for Donald Trump in US election
Sunak calls Tories to unite behind new leader
11:44 , Salma Ouaguira
Rishi Sunak has urged Conservatives to rally behind whoever is elected as the new leader.
The former prime minister emphasised the importance of unity for the party’s future.
In an op-ed for the House magazine, his first significant statement since the general election, Mr Sunak described the upcoming annual conference as a “unique opportunity to debate and reflect” on the direction of the Conservative Party.
He added: “Just as importantly for many going, it will also be one to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
“We, the Conservative Party, are a family and, once this contest is over, we must come together to support our new leader.”
In a mesage to party members and MPs, past and present, he said: “This will be my last conference as leader, and I want to thank everyone in the party for their support. I will always be sorry that I could not deliver the results that everyone’s efforts deserved, but I will always be grateful for everyone’s hard work and commitment.”
Watch: Immigrants who see Israel as enemy ‘not welcome’ in UK says Badenoch
11:40 , Salma Ouaguira
Badenoch praises Duffield but says she’s ‘not a Conservative’
11:29 , Salma Ouaguira
When asked if she would welcome Rosie Duffield to the Conservative party, Tory leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch expressed admiration for the Labour critic but clarified that she is “not a Conservative”.
“Rosie Duffield is an amazing person. Whenever people ask me whoever’s the Labour person you like most, I always say Rosie,” Ms Badenoch told Times Radio. “She fights for her beliefs, she’s passionate, she’s principled. She’s not a Conservative.”
On the abuse Ms Duffield has received in recent weeks and since handing in her resignation, the shadow business secretary said: “I’ve offered moral support where I can. She’s had abuse from her own side, which is the worse thing.”
Boris Johnson: Covid virus created in Chinese laboratory
11:25 , Salma Ouaguira
Boris Johnson has said that he believes a leak from a Chinese laboratory was the “likely” cause of the pandemic.
The former prime minister told the Daily Mail: “The awful thing about the whole Covid catastrophe is that it appears to have been entirely man-made, in all its aspects.
“It now looks overwhelmingly likely that the mutation was the result of some botched experiment in a Chinese lab.
“Some scientists were clearly splicing bits of virus together like the witches in Macbeth – eye of bat and toe of frog – and oops, the frisky little critter jumped out of the test tube and started replicating all over the world.”
Tugendhat: Judge me on my record, not ‘posh’ schooling
11:22 , Salma Ouaguira
Tom Tugendhat has rejected suggestions he would be just another privately educated “posh boy” in charge of the Conservative Party if he wins its leadership election.
The former security minister was pressed about his private education at St Paul’s School in London as he faced questions on the dawn of the Tory conference in Birmingham.
Mr Tugendhat urged the public to judge him on his record, rather than on his background, as he faced questions on Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.
Asked whether the Tories need another “posh boy leader from a great public school”, Mr Tugendhat said: “I think the Conservative Party needs a leader who can lead, and you can judge me on the decisions my parents made 35 years ago or you can judge me on the decisions I have made for the last 35 years.
“I think that decisions I have made for the last 35 years demonstrate the character that you are looking at.
“I have chosen consistently to serve our country. I have put myself on the front line in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Lib Dems: Tory leadership candidates defend the indefensible
11:20 , Salma Ouaguira
Following the appearance of the four Conservative leadership candidates on the morning media round, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader has expressed come concerns.
Daisy Cooper accused the contenders of trying to “defend the indefensible” on their pitches.
She added: “As James Cleverly said himself, people wanted the Conservatives out of government and this dire set of candidates has made it crystal clear why.“From the Conservative’s Partygate and PPE scandals to their disastrous mini budget, every one of the Conservative’s leadership candidates has spent years defending the indefensible.
“The British people have had enough of Conservative sleaze and scandal. They’ve had enough of seeing their health services and economy trashed. And that’s why so many former life-long Conservative voters backed the Liberal Democrats at the last election.
“People want urgent action to fix the health and care crisis not Conservative leadership candidates sniping from the sidelines. That’s why Liberal Democrats are calling for a Budget to Save the NHS and Care and working day in day out to be the constructive opposition the country needs and deserves.“
Watch: Duffield claims Starmer ‘has problem with women’ after quitting Labour
11:10 , Salma Ouaguira
Rosie Duffield claims Keir Starmer ‘has problem with women’ after quitting Labour
Badenoch: Britain needs to be clear in its national identity
11:03 , Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch has called for the need for clarity around Britain’s national identity.
Speaking on Times Radio about the challenges posed by migration, she said: “People are running away from terrifying regimes and coming here. We cannot allow the things they’re running from to spring up here.
“Immigrants come here to build their lives, not to build this country. We should ask them to contribute to this country.
“But at some point if you just become a mix of everything that’s just going on around the world, what is it that you’re uniting around, what is your national identity?”
Tugendhat rejects ‘tailender’ label
10:55 , Salma Ouaguira
Tom Tugendhat has rejected claims that he is the “tailender” in the Tory leadership race.
Asked on Times Radio if he was the “tailender”, he said: “No I don’t think that’s right. I think what we’re seeing is that this is a massive reset moment for the party and actually for the race.
“The reality is that we need to restore trust in this party, we need to restore trust in politics across the country, and we need to offer the leadership that the British people need.
“And you know, I’ve demonstrated over 25 years serving our country in different ways, on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, in Parliament and recently in cabinet, that you know, service is absolutely essential to what we need, and it defines who I am, and we need to be offering that same level of service and that same offer of leadership to make sure we’re delivering for the British people.”
In a quick-fire round of questioning, Mr Tugendhat answered “yes” to questions “can you win” and “would you appoint your final contenders to your shadow cabinet if you do win” and “do you think this contest should be cut short so you can respond to the budget”.
Asked, “if not you, who”, Mr Tugendhat did not answer and said “that will be a matter for the Conservative voters”. Pushed on the question, he said: “Look, I’m standing because I think I’m the best placed to offer the leadership this country needs.”
McFadden denies Duffield’s claims ‘the lads are in charge’ of No10
10:40 , Salma Ouaguira
Pat McFadden has rejected Rosie Duffield’s claim that “the lads” were in charge in Downing Street.
Asked whether he was one of “the lads”, he told the BBC: “I think I’m a bit too old to be a lad.
“Some of the stuff in the letter [from Rosie Duffield] I just don’t accept.
“I see ministers turning up to work every day and what’s on their mind is how to stabilise the economy and get it growing again, how to turn around the NHS, how to get more houses built, how to improve rights at work for people, how to get more opportunity into schools.
“That’s what the ministers around that Cabinet table are focused on. They believe in public service.”
McFadden says Labour will tighten rules on hospitality received by ministers
10:25 , Salma Ouaguira
Labour will tighten rules to ensure ministers declare hospitality they receive in the same way as backbench MPs, Pat McFadden has said, claiming the current rules were a “Tory loophole” to protect Conservative ministers.
He told the BBC: “We will make clear going forward in the ministerial code that both ministers and shadow ministers should be under the same declaration rules.”
He added: “This was a Tory loophole, brought in so that you would have an event where the Tory minister, as it was under the last government, there, the Labour shadow opposite number would also be there, and the Tory minister would not have to declare.
“That was the Tory rules, we don’t think that’s fair, so we will close that loophole so ministers and shadow ministers are treated the same going forward.”
Details of hospitality received by ministers in their ministerial capacity are published by departments, but the information is released quarterly and does not include the value of the hospitality, unlike MPs’ interests which are declared fortnightly and include the cost of the hospitality.
McFadden responds to Duffield: ‘She’s been disillusioned for a long time’
10:20 , Salma Ouaguira
Labour cabinet minister Pat McFadden has addressed Rosie Duffield’s recent criticisms.
Acknowledging her long-sanding disillusionment with the party and its leader, he told the BBC: “It’s not something that’s developed in the last few months.”
On the controversy surrounding donations accepted by Labour members, McFadden defended them as standard contributions, adding that “presentation” is part of any campaign.
He also dismissed any notion of “give x to get y,” and highlighted Lord Alli as a “long-term” Labour supporter.
Watch: Badenoch praises Israel as ‘extraordinary’ following Hezbollah leader wipeout
10:06 , Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch praises Israel as ‘extraordinary’ following Hezbollah leader wipeout
Duffield: The lads are in charge
09:55 , Salma Ouaguira
Rosie Duffield has accused Sir Keir Starmer of having a problem with women.
She told the BBC that many women backbenchers she’s friends with refer to the “young men that surround him [Starmer] as ‘the lads’ and it’s clear that the lads are now in charge”.
Ms Duffield added: “They’re the same lads that were there briefing against me in the papers.I was really hoping for better, but it wasn’t to be.”
Rosie Duffield: Starmer can afford his own clothes
09:52 , Salma Ouaguira
Following her resignation letter attacking the prime minister, the Canterbury MP has hit out at Keir Starmer for accepting gifts from donors while axing the winter fuel payment for pensioners.
Ms Duffield told the BBC: “I’m ashamed of the fact that we stood up and condemned the last few years of Tory sleaze and all of the things that brought politics into disrepute and here we are and it’s daily revelations of hypocrisy and grubby presents. I can’t believe what I’m reading every single day.”
She added: “It’s greed. Why else would someone on so much more money than most people take free gifts? Why?
“He can absolutely afford his own clothes, we all can and I’ve seen journalists asking him and he hasn’t answered, he hasn’t explained.”
‘I’m not an uncritical friend of Israel,’ Jenrick insists
09:49 , Salma Ouaguira
The final Tory leadership candidate to speack with Trevor Phillips has also addressed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
While is Jenrick considered one of the strongest supporters of Israel among the candidates, he insisted that he is “not an uncritical friend” of Israel.
He added that it is right to stand by the “only democracy in the Middle East”, but it must be done in “sensible steps” to reduce the loss of life.
Badenoch attacks migrants ‘living in their little bubbles’
09:44 , Salma Ouaguira
The former minister has now turned her attack towards the “lack of integration” claiming it is a “recipe for disaster”.
Ms Badenoch said: “People who come here should want to live in Britain, they want to love the country.
“They should want to contribute and wanted to succeed. We are not a dormitory. This is our home. People from all around the world just living here in their little bubbles and little groups is a recipe for disaster.
“I have seen it. I told you. I grew up in a country with 300 ethnic groups. This is a recipe for conflict, and the government needs to work hard on integration. You can’t just sit back and say, well, as long as you get a good job and don’t commit crimes, that’s fine.”
Badenoch grilled over ‘immigrants who hate Israel’ claim
09:42 , Salma Ouaguira
The Tory hopeful has been pressed over her comments about “immigrants who hate Israel” on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
The shadow business secretary said: “I know what you’re trying to do. Laura, you want me to say Muslims, but it isn’t all Muslims. So I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to play this game.
“I should be able to say that I have made an observation without you trying to portray it as me attacking a particular group.”
She added: “I talked about people ripping down posters. We saw who was doing it. We read about cases.”
Badenoch: People bringing views to UK that aren’t welcome
09:38 , Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch has doubled down on her attack towards migrants, claiming that many people coming to the UK have brought views that “have no place here”.
She told the BBC: “I actually think it’s extraordinary that people think that’s an unusual or controversial thing to say, of course, not all cultures very flat. I don’t believe in cultural relativism.
“I believe in western values, the principles which have made this country great. And I think that we need to make sure that we continue to abide by those principles to keep the society that we have now.”
The Tory contender said during her time as an equalities minister she say people bringing cultural disputes from India “to the streets of Leicester”.
Citing her time on the election trail, Ms Badenoch said: “You’d knock on doors and you see somebody at the door who says ‘I can’t speak to you, I will get my husband’.”
Tory leadership contender: ‘it’s not all Muslim immigrants’ who hate Israel
08:45 , Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch has said she was struck by how many immigrants hated Israel.
Asked whether she was referring to all Muslim immigrants, the Tory MP told Sky News: “Because it’s not all Muslims, and this is what I don’t do. I’m very careful when I speak.
“I’ve met many Muslim people who love Israel. I’ve met them in the Middle East, when I went to Saudi, when I went to the UAE, you know, you look at the Abrahamic Middle East.
“It is not all Muslims, but there are some who buy into Islamist ideology, political Islam. They do not like us.”
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