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Gove suggests Jenrick could hold Conservatives back because he looks like ‘Tory boy’
Michael Gove, a prominent figure in the Conservative party and currently editing the Spectator, indicated that the selection of Robert Jenrick as party leader could hinder the Conservatives due to his perceived image as a “Tory boy.”
As a longstanding supporter of Kemi Badenoch, who previously worked under him as a junior minister, Gove’s preference for her candidacy was evident during a recent interview on the Today programme’s podcast, where he articulated his admiration for Badenoch over Jenrick.
Despite his clear inclination towards Badenoch, Gove refrained from publicly declaring a vote for her, suggesting that the Spectator prioritizes promoting certain policy causes rather than individual candidates, implying that his endorsement could be unwelcome.
When discussing both candidates, Gove mentioned their friendship but acknowledged Jenrick’s strengths, highlighting his diligence and focus on key issues within the party. Gove stated:
Robert’s strengths are diligence, rigour, hunger. He is someone who has focused on some of the significant questions that have been central to the Conservative party’s internal discussions. And he has answers; you may not like them, but he has precise and specific solutions.
However, Gove described one of Jenrick’s weaknesses, noting:
Now, I think one of Robert’s weaknesses, and I speak as someone who has the same déformation professionnelle, he looks like a typical Tory politician.
In response to the characterization of Jenrick as a “Tory boy,” Gove humorously remarked:
So am I. It’s a stain that I bear. And given the strong sentiment against such politicians expressed during the last general election, that’s a challenge.
Referring to Badenoch, Gove expressed fondness, recalling her boldness in supporting him during his leadership bid in 2019:
I’m very fond of Kemi because at a critical moment when I was running for the leadership in 2019 she was conspicuously brave in my defence, when she didn’t need to be. And courage is Kemi’s hallmark.
He defended her tendency to engage in disputes, arguing that it is a necessary quality.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson won’t say if she’s among ministers writing to PM about budget settlement
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, addressed media inquiries on behalf of No 10 this morning. During an interview on the Today programme, she was asked if she had joined other cabinet ministers in expressing concerns to the Prime Minister over departmental budget allocations. She chose not to confirm her involvement, responding:
There are lots of conversations happening right now across government, between the chancellor, with members of the cabinet, as you would expect in the usual way as part of the budget process.
When questioned about the safeguarding of the education budget, Phillipson stated:
Education is always a priority for Labour governments.
She urged patience, indicating that the chancellor’s budget announcement would occur in less than two weeks, affirming that everyone would have to wait until October 30 for detailed insights.
According to the Times, several ministers, including Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood, and Louise Haigh, have reached out to the PM regarding their budget concerns. The report from Oliver Wright, Patrick Maguire, and Steven Swinford noted:
Sources said there was concern “right across the cabinet,” particularly in departments whose spending was “unprotected.”
A senior Treasury source remarked that some ministers were unaware of the financial challenges facing the Reeves. “They’re using a classic trade union negotiating tactic,” said the source. “But we don’t have any spare cash lying around to give them. This is only phase one of the spending review — as soon as the budget is over, we’re going to have to do this all over again.”
Supporters of the chancellor acknowledged that focusing on long-term investments rather than immediate expenditures had disappointed some colleagues. “Investment is a key part of this budget and is in the top three things we can actually deliver before the next election,” noted a source.
Tories would do better with Jenrick as leader than Badenoch, poll suggests ahead of leadership hustings
Good morning. As Conservative party members begin receiving their ballot papers for the leadership vote, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are scheduled to participate in what is expected to be the only televised event of this phase of the contest — a hustings on GB News at 7 p.m. Tonight, each candidate will respond to questions for an hour.
While Badenoch remains the frontrunner according to bookmakers, a recent polling by Electoral Calculus, reported in the Telegraph, suggests that Jenrick could yield superior results for the Tories. In the analysis by Charles Hymas, it is stated:
Mr. Jenrick, the former immigration minister, would gain 50 additional seats if he led the Conservatives, compared to a gain of 30 seats with Kemi Badenoch, his competitor for the leadership, based on a survey of nearly 6,300 respondents by Electoral Calculus.
With Jenrick at the helm, the Conservatives could increase their seats from 121 to 178, while Labour’s count would drop from 412 to 311. The Liberal Democrats would reduce their seats from 72 to 58, and Reform would see an increase from five to 24 seats, leaving Labour 14 seats shy of a majority.
In contrast, under Badenoch’s leadership, the Conservatives would rise from 121 to 151 seats, while Labour would see a decrease to 332 seats. The Liberal Democrats would decline to 63, with Reform slightly increasing to 25, leading to a situation where Labour could form a government with a 14-seat majority.
While this polling data is enlightening, it comes with caveats. First, the perceived performance differential between Jenrick and Badenoch remains uncertain, as voters have limited awareness of either candidate, making it difficult to predict their leadership success accurately. Moreover, Conservative members might prioritize choices that resonate within their ranks rather than focusing on broader electoral appeal, contributing to the party’s recent electoral challenges.
More insights about the Conservatives are expected throughout the day. The agenda remains relatively quiet except for ongoing discussions surrounding the upcoming budget. Eleni Courea has reported that several cabinet ministers have expressed grievances to Keir Starmer regarding the budget cuts imposed on their departments.
Here is the agenda for the day:
Morning: John Healey, the defence secretary, attends a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.
9.30am: Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, responds to questions in the Commons.
9.30am: The Office for National Statistics will release figures regarding the disability pay gap.
9.30am: The Department for Education will disclose data on pupil absences in England.
10.30am: Lucy Powell, leader of the Commons, takes questions about the upcoming Commons business.
11.30am: Downing Street will conduct a lobby briefing.
7pm: Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick engage in the leadership hustings on GB News, where party members will pose questions, hosted by Christopher Hope, GB News political editor.
Discussions and insights about the leadership race are anticipated as developments unfold throughout the day.
Source
www.theguardian.com