The four contenders for the leadership of Britain’s Conservative Party began outlining their vision for the future of the nation on Sunday, as immigration emerged as a key issue following the
party's crushing electoral defeat.
At the opening of the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Birmingham, the candidates, including leading figures like former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and former Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch, took to the media to present their bids to lead the party.
Kemi Badenoch, a Conservative MP and leadership hopeful, was seen engaging with the public on the first day of the conference, held on September 29, 2024. Following the Labour Party's overwhelming victory in July, ending the Conservatives' 14-year rule, the party is now grappling with its identity, with many calling for a new leader to unify the party and address the perceived internal conflicts and lack of progress that contributed to its historic defeat.
Outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a brief appearance at the conference, stepping back from delivering the traditional leader’s speech. He emphasized the importance of unity and encouraged the party to rally behind the eventual winner of the leadership contest.
Leading candidates, Jenrick and Badenoch, placed immigration at the center of their campaigns. Jenrick vowed to impose a "legally binding cap cast in iron" on the number of immigrants allowed into the UK, and suggested Britain should withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, which some Conservatives claim has hindered efforts to deport asylum seekers.
Badenoch, while acknowledging that immigration numbers matter, focused more on cultural integration. "Culture is even more important. Who comes into the country is absolutely critical, and leadership needs to reflect that from the top," she said in an interview with the BBC.
In addition to Jenrick and Badenoch, former Foreign Minister James Cleverly and former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat are also in the running. All four candidates emphasized the need to rebuild trust with voters, which they believe was eroded by years of party infighting and scandals. The next leader will be the party's fifth since David Cameron resigned in 2016.
The Conservative Party conference, largely centered on the leadership race, will culminate with speeches from all four candidates on Wednesday. The field will then narrow to two in October, with party members voting to select the new leader, who will be announced on November 2. Photo by NCVO London, Wikimedia commons.