Kent MP Tom Tugendhat apologises for Tory failures at leadership campaign launch

  • ITV News Meridian's Political Correspondent Kit Bradshaw reports on how the campaign launch went.

Tom Tugendhat formally launched his bid in the Tory leadership race, controlling immigration at the centre of his campaign.

Mr Tugendhat, one of the six Tory MPs vying to be Rishi Sunak’s successor as Conservative leader, will formally launch his campaign in a central London event on Tuesday with a promise to reset the party’s relationship with the public.

Former immigration minister Mr Jenrick meanwhile faced criticism for placing his desire to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) at the heart of his campaign, with rivals questioning the move.

The MP for Tonbridge in Kent, says he would aim to reduce net migration to below 100,000 people a year, if he were to become prime minister.

Mentioning his time as a solider in his campaign speech, he apologised for the Conservative Party's record with immigration, saying: "What I've learned about leadership, about fighting for liberty and protecting our security, I didn't learn in Westminster, but in the army.

"So I want to start with an apology. The Conservative Party owed you better."

Six candidates entered the fray Credit: UK Parliament/PA

The race for the Tory leadership has begun to heat up as MPs return to Westminster after the summer recess.

The two regarded as frontrunners, Robert Jenrick, former housing secretary, and Kemi Badenoch, North West Essex MP and former business secretary.

James Cleverly launched his campaign on Monday. Former ministers Mel Stride and Dame Priti Patel are also running for the leadership, though Mr Stride is yet to hold a launch event.

In his speech, Mr Tugendhat spoke about trying to win back the trust of the public after "recent games" at Westminster which have plagued the party.

He told the audience: "My pledge, as leader, is to return to the honest state, the responsible state.

"I will set out the agenda for government to win back the trust and confidence in the future because I know that this country has the greatest building blocks for future success.

"That’s why I am standing, not just to lead the Conservative Party. I am standing to be the prime minister of the United Kingdom."

Sweets handed out at Tom Tugendhat’s event had his face on them. Credit: ITV News

Candidates have been urged not to attack one another during the contest, to avoid the public division on display in the 2022 leadership contest, which resulted in the head-to-head between Liz Truss and Mr Sunak.

But Mr Jenrick has faced veiled criticism from his rivals over his position on the ECHR, which he has blamed for blocking efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and deport foreign offenders.

Mrs Badenoch and Mr Cleverly both spoke unfavourably of the plans, suggesting Mr Jenrick was offering "easy answers" or "sound bites and quick fixes" which would not deliver results.

Mr Jenrick hit back, telling reporters: "On illegal migration… if you come here illegally, you’re detained, you’re removed within days either back to Albania or to a safe third country like Rwanda, whatever is available in the years ahead.

"To do that, I have come to the conclusion that we have to leave the European Convention on Human Rights. I don’t believe it’s reformable."

He also claimed that the promise of a binding cap on legal migration is necessary to help win back votes from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Mrs Badenoch, widely tipped as the bookmakers’ favourite, at her launch event claimed Labour is only in Government because people no longer believed in the Conservatives.

She said the previous government’s mistake was that it "talked right but governed left, sounding like Conservatives but acting like Labour".

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...