Tory leadership candidate James Cleverly has urged his party to “be more normal” and take inspiration from US president Ronald Reagan.
Making his campaign speech at the annual Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Cleverly opened his address from behind a lectern with an apology to the public.
The former home and foreign secretary said: “We’re currently in opposition but we don’t exist to be in opposition. We’re in politics to serve the British people and to make their lives better.
“We need to get back on track but before we can do that there’s something we need to say: sorry. Sorry on behalf of the Conservative parliamentary party, who let you down.
“And we have to be better, much better. And under my leadership, we will.”
Cleverly added: “The British people are never wrong. The British people told us to go and srt ourselves out. Let’s not make them tell us again.”
The Tory MP for Braintree, in Essex, told conference his “political hero” was President Ronald Reagan, adding: “He knew what optimism was even in the depths of the Cold War.
“He made Americans want to vote for a Conservative, not reluctantly, but with enthusiasm.
“Let’s be more like Reagan. Let’s be enthusiastic, relatable, positive, optimistic. Let’s be more normal. Let’s sell the benefits of Conservatism with a smile.”
He stressed that Conservatives should be proud of their record in office, and claimed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage “were two sides of the same coin” – both thinking life was better either before the UK joined the EU, or left it.
Cleverly’s speech came after fellow ‘One Nation’ candidate Tom Tugendhat, who told the audience: “We need to face the truth. Many who share our values did not vote for us.”
The former security minister and leadership hopeful vowed: “I will defeat Labour and lead us back to power in five years time.
We all know that this country can’t afford Labour. You can’t afford Labour, I can’t afford Labour, Lord Alli can’t afford Labour… they are the most venal and vindictive administration in decades.”
Tugendhat pledged: “My mission is to win the next general election and I have never failed a mission yet.”
On taxation, he added: “We will deliver and we can bring down taxes but not if we treat these symptoms separately, that is a prescription managed economy.”
Taking to the stage in a dark suit and Tory blue tie, Tugendhat spoke without a lectern.
The former soldier focused his video message – which had a slicker audio and production quality than Cleverly’s – on asking members if they wanted a “Conservative in opposition, or a Conservative in Downing Street”?
More to follow.