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Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Tom Tugendhat has been eliminated from the Conservative leadership contest, paving the way for James Cleverly, who has received a significant boost in support.
The former security minister, who was previously viewed as a strong contender, failed to win over enough backing from parliamentary colleagues to make it to the final three, garnering only 20 votes.
James Cleverly topped the third ballot with a notable rise in support, securing 39 votes from Tory MPs. This shift in momentum places him as a frontrunner as the race intensifies.
Meanwhile, Robert Jenrick remains a key player in the contest with 31 of the votes. Kemi Badenoch closely trails with 30 votes, reflecting a tight race among the remaining candidates.
With the final two candidates set to be announced in another ballot on Wednesday, Tory members will have the chance to vote in an online ballot from 10 to 31 October.
It comes as the Conservatives narrowed Labour’s lead to just one point, raising alarms for Sir Keir Starmer’s party months after its sweeping election victory.
Key Points
- Cleverly clinches top spot as Tugendhat eliminated from race
- Kemi Badenoch calls on Jenrick supporters to unite behind her bid
- Poll: Cleverly rises in Tory leadership race after strong conference
- Concerns mount over VAT charges on nursery fees in Labour’s tax plans
- No 10 rejects fears of Truss-style chaos ahead of Budget announcement
KEY POST: Starmer to face PMQs grilling on Labour turmoil
Sir Keir Starmer is set to face a grilling from Rishi Sunak in his first PMQs since reshuffling his Downing Street leadership team, after Sue Gray’s shock exit as his chief of staff.
The former civil servant – who Sir Keir personally recruited to drive his policies through Whitehall – resigned after fewer than three months in office, after weeks of infighting. Ms Gray said she feared becoming a “distraction to the government’s vital work of change”, and will be replaced by Morgan McSweeney.
In his first PMQs bout since parliament returned from recess on Monday, the prime minister will also be bracing for questioning on the row over his and Labour frontbenchers’ acceptance of gifts and hospitality freebies, notably from businessman Lord Alli.
Sir Keir has already attempted to reset the agenda three times with announcements about restricting gifts in the future and paying back some of those already accepted.
Andy Gregory8 October 2024 21:25 1728397846PINNED | Cleverly clinches top spot as Tugendhat eliminated from leadership race
In a decisive turn of events in the Conservative leadership contest, James Cleverly emerged as the frontrunner, garnering 39 votes while Tom Tungendhat was eliminated after securing only 20.
Mr Cleverly’s performance marks a notable resurgence from his previous tally of just 21 votes in the round held before the party conference.
His strong showing is seen as a reflection of his impactful conference speech, where he was tipped as a standout candidate.
Robert Jenrick trailed closely behind Mr Clevelry with 31 votes, while Kemi Badenoch rounded out the top three with 30, having gained two votes from the previous round.
In contrast, Mr Jenrick experienced a slight decline, losing the support of two MPs.
The final vote among Conservative MPs is set to take place tomorrow, narrowing the field from three candidates to the last two, who will then face a ballot of Tory Members.
The winner is expected to be announced on 2 November.
Salma Ouaguira8 October 2024 15:30 1728428370Watch: Boris Johnson says his Downing Street apartment resembled a 'crack den'
MPs have ‘right to hear where impact assessment is’ on private school VAT cut, says Priti Patel
MPs have a “right to hear where the impact assessment is” on the government’s plan to add VAT to private school fees, Priti Patel has said.
The Tory former home secretary told the Commons: “This entire policy is dogmatic and it’s rooted in the politics of envy - I think that’s self-evident, it really is, by a self-serving socialist government that is actually ignorant and blind to the harm that this is going to lead to for families up and down the country.”
Ms Patel added: “This House has a right to hear where the impact assessment is, what the fiscal projections will be, what the costs will be across every government department that’s affected, and of course, that is the Department for Education but also local government, because it is local councils that will continue to pick up the costs here in particular.”
Andy Gregory8 October 2024 23:30 1728424830Analysis | Keir Starmer has found his own Dominic Cummings in Morgan McSweeney
If Sue Gray divided opinion inside and outside Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet - and she certainly did - then his chosen replacement may prove to be even more controversial.
Even before the Sunday lunch of short knives saw Ms Gray ousted from Starmer’s top team, Morgan McSweeney was a deeply controversial figure within the Labour Party who has attracted an almost pathalogical hatred from the left.
But what is fascinating many now within the Westminster bubble are the comparisons between McSweeney and that recent Svengali figure at the heart of Boris Johnson’s government Dominic Cummings.
Given that Mr Johnson in his new autobiographical book Unleashed has compared Cummings to a fictional “homicidal robot” bent on destruction, this may not be the most comfortable comparison for the newly installed regime around Starmer.
Our political editor David Maddox has more analysis here:
Keir Starmer has found his own Dominic Cummings in Morgan McSweeney
News analysis: Just days after Boris Johnson likened Dominic Cummings to a ‘homicidal robot’ in his new book, Keir Starmer seems to embrace the idea of putting a ruthless, analytics obsessed genius in charge of his Downing Street operation, writes The Independent’s politics editor David Maddox
Andy Gregory8 October 2024 23:00 1728423030Lisa Nandy ‘absolutely determined’ to ensure access to arts for every child in UK
Labour minister Lisa Nandy has said she is “absolutely determined” to ensure that access to the arts is a reality for every child in the UK.
The secretary of state for culture, media, and sport spoke at an event in Westminster on Tuesday as she announced the winner of the Robson Orr TenTen Award 2024.
My colleague Maira Butt has the full report:
Lisa Nandy ‘absolutely determined’ to ensure access to arts for ‘every child’ in UK
Nandy presented the Robson Orr TenTen Award to Grenada-born artist Denzil Forrester
Andy Gregory8 October 2024 22:30 1728421230Corbyn MPs unite with Tories to oppose Labour’s private school tax raid
Two of Jeremy Corbyn’s Commons allies have united with the Tories to oppose Labour’s tax raid on private schools, despite having been elected on left-wing tickets.
Pro-Gaza independents Iqbal Mohamed and Ayoub Khan spoke out against Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to levy VAT on independent schools and remove their relief from business rates.
The pair, who have joined Mr Corbyn’s Independent Alliance alongside other left-wing independents elected in July, both opposed the plans being introduced by Labour.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Corbyn MPs unite with Tories to oppose Labour’s private school tax raid
Pro-Gaza independents spoke out against Starmer’s plans to levy VAT on independent schools
Andy Gregory8 October 2024 22:00 1728419430Watch: Musk claims UK has become global laughing stock under Starmer
Minister defends private school VAT cuts
Most private schools will be able to keep fee increases affordable for parents by absorbing a “significant proportion” of new VAT charges, the government has said.
Treasury minister James Murray was heckled by opposition MPs as he defended the proposal to remove the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools from January to enable funding for 6,500 new teachers in state schools.
He said some schools have committed to absorbing the VAT liability entirely, while others are capping fee increases at 5 per cent or 10 per cent.
His remarks came after shadow education secretary Damian Hinds labelled the plan “destructive, disruptive and divisive”, as he pressed the government to publish a full impact assessment to show the effects of the reform on independent schools and the state sector.
Andy Gregory8 October 2024 21:00 1728415890Holyrood backs demand for Starmer to reverse ‘damaging’ winter fuel cut
MSPs have backed a call from Scotland’s first minister John Swinney to demand the UK government reverses its “damaging” decision to introduce means-testing for the winter fuel payment.
The Scottish Parliament voted by 99 to 14 in favour of a motion from the first minister, insisting the Labour government at Westminster changes course.
Mr Swinney said introducing means-testing alongside the rise in the energy price cap represents a “double whammy” that will hit older Scots and vulnerable households.
He said the Scottish Government is “working urgently to mitigate the impact of the UK government’s damaging decision”, telling MSPs he has written to councils seeking their “urgent assistance” in encouraging more older people to claim pension credit – thus allowing them to qualify for the winter fuel payment.
The first minister said his government is spending a record £6.1bn on benefits north of the border, but he told MSPs it “cannot continue to backfill UK austerity policy decisions”.
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