Cleverly’s leadership bid gathers pace as he calls on Tories to be ‘more normal’

James Cleverly, the ex-home secretary, has gained traction in the race for Conservative leadership. He is urging his party to embrace a more “normal” approach, particularly following the chaotic past few days for his leading competitors, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.

During his address on the last day of the Conservative conference, he expressed regret to both party members and the nation for the shortcomings of the parliamentary team. He emphasized that the Conservatives would achieve success once more when they are "enthusiastic, approachable, upbeat, and hopeful – let’s aim for a more down-to-earth approach."

Following a series of challenging news articles, Badenoch, the shadow housing secretary, was met with enthusiastic applause in the hall for her criticisms of net zero policies and identity politics. She wrapped up the conference in Birmingham on Wednesday with a speech that addressed her detractors and vowed to "speak the truth."

The ex-business secretary shared, “I was raised in an environment filled with fear. Hearing the cries of my neighbors while they were being robbed and assaulted... That kind of fear changes you; you stop worrying about getting attacked on Twitter.”

The chances of Cleverly making it into the final two in the members' vote have significantly improved in the last 48 hours. However, it will ultimately be Conservative MPs who decide which two out of the four candidates will advance next week.

In their speeches, both Badenoch and Jenrick emphasized their conservative values regarding issues like the environment, gender, and diversity. They also expressed their strong disapproval of how a teacher in Batley was treated for displaying a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad.

Badenoch has received backlash for stating that maternity pay is "too generous" and for her remarks about civil servants. Meanwhile, Jenrick was rebuked by previous defense secretaries and fellow leadership contender Tom Tugendhat for suggesting that special forces were targeting terrorists instead of capturing them due to concerns about European legislation.

In a nod to Tony Blair's New Labour movement, Jenrick vowed to establish a New Conservative party. "We will embrace tolerance, but we will never allow this to happen again," he declared to the audience at the conference.

Badenoch began her address by stating that it was “time for honesty” and mentioned that she had experienced the system firsthand, describing it as “flawed.” She expressed that she had been opposing identity politics “throughout my career” and received applause when she asserted that “the quiet corruption of our society must end.”

"Some might think I'm someone who enjoys a good brawl, and I really don't know how they came to that conclusion," she explained. "It's simply not accurate. I'm not a fan of fighting, but I won't back down if it comes to that. I don't engage in fights just for the sake of it, but when it comes to you, I'm ready to stand my ground!"

In his address, Cleverly subtly criticized the shortcomings of his opponents. Referencing Gordon Brown's famous statement about not needing a beginner at the helm, he highlighted his own experience as both home secretary and foreign secretary, contrasting it with that of his competitors. “I'm well aware of what the government ought to be doing at this moment. I understand precisely where they're falling short. This is not the moment for someone who is still learning the ropes.”

In a jab directed at Badenoch, who has frequently claimed that the media has misquoted her, Cleverly remarked: "Pick someone you trust, someone with experience, and someone who isn’t afraid to engage with the press."

The loudest applause erupted when Cleverly stated that there would be no collaboration with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party. “Remember this: we will outshine Reform by being our true selves, not a watered-down version of someone else. So, no mergers and no agreements.”

In his address, Tugendhat referenced his background in the military and his experience as a security minister. He stated, “My role isn’t about simply managing; it’s about taking on a leadership position.”

Tugendhat acknowledged that he intended to set a limit on net migration and might think about withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights. However, he pointed out that these matters are more complex than they appear. "This concerns visas, not foreign legal systems," he explained. "I'll be honest—my rivals might not admit this, but it's not as easy as it seems."

Afterward, a supporter of Tugendhat remarked that he seemed to be missing some of the energy that Cleverly brought to the table, which was disappointing.

In the area outside the conference hall, the leadership race started to take a negative turn as representatives from various candidates started openly criticizing each other. One person referred to Cleverly’s speech as sounding more like that of a party chair than a leader, calling it “somewhat like Comical Ali.”

MP Jesse Norman, a notable supporter of Badenoch, described Jenrick’s speech as "awful," stating that it contained several statements that are fundamentally false or overly simplistic.

After her speech, all the candidates took the time to chat with the media, except for Badenoch, who was quickly ushered out of the conference hall by her assistants as soon as she finished.