Yesterday it was Tugendhat and Badenoch. Now it’s Robert Jenrick’s turn to field questions from Chris Hope and Tory members at Conference. There’s been a row this morning over his claim that SAS personnel are “killing rather than capturing” terrorists thanks to the ECHR. The bookies’ favourite will have the chance to calm the baying mob. Of rival candidates…
30 minutes with Chris Hope and 30 minutes of members’ questions. Guido will add a summary below…
Says he wasn’t sure if he would keep his seat.
Says his daughter’s middle name is “Thatcher.”
Insists he will turn down freebies if he is made leader.
Doesn’t characterise himself as on right-wing of the party.
Defends record on immigration.
He argued relentlessly “mostly in private” that the strengthened version of the Rwanda policy was required.
Says he’s the only hopeful to have served under last 5 Tory PMs.
Says he would bring Rwanda policy back because “you have to have a deterrent.”
Says you have to leave ECHR. “It’s leave or remain. I’m for leave.”
Net migration to the tens of thousands or the thousands.
Legal migration cap.
Supply side reforms needed.
Top rate of tax abolition: I would like to do that.
Don’t treat NHS like a religion to be worshipped. Consider outputs.
Reclaim mantle of low tax which Tories have “lost a bit”.
Reform needs to be made redundant with good policies.
Says Boris, Penny Mordaunt, Andy Street – all should come back.
Open to idea of elected chairman.
Says he will never parachute in the favoured sons and daughters into safe seats. Applause there…
Defends voting remain: We have failed to take advantage.
Wants British bill of rights.
Bring back grammar schools.
Hints that licence fee should go.
Natural to lean towards Republican Party as a Conservative.
Prefers a doughnut to Ozempic – that’s why I needed Ozempic.
Says a lot of people from across the party. One Conservative team from now on.
He will demand to end race early to respond to budget.
“Gas is here to stay.” Net zero in principle, but never off the backs of working people.
Police gave appearance of two-tier policing.
He is one of “handful of members of the Commons who talks about Islamic extremism.”
Defends claim that shouting “Allahu Akbar” intimidatingly should be arrested.
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”
