Leadership hopeful Jenrick sides with working people

TORY leadership contender Robert Jenrick will accuse Sir Keir Starmer of “declaring war on the middle classes” in a major speech today, as the battle to replace Rishi Sunak kicks into gear.

- Jonathan Walker

The former Home Office minister, thought to be one of two front-runners in the race for the Conservative leadership, will insist that Tories must “always be on the side of people working hard to get on in life”.

The contest begins in earnest tomorrow when the House of Commons returns, following the summer break.

Tory MPs will quiz six candidates in a private hustings on Tuesday and whittle the number down to five in a vote on Wednesday, before another vote next week slashes the hopefuls to four.

Speaking at a rally of supporters, Mr Jenrick will highlight tax increases expected on October 30 and warn: “Sir Keir’s first Budget is shaping up to be a declaration of war on the middle class and we must be ready to fight it.”

Other contenders setting out their stall include Shadow Communities Secretary Kemi Badenoch, the bookies’ favourite, who will officially launch her campaign, branded Renewal 2030, tomorrow.

She will urge the Conservative Party to come together, saying: “It is not enough to call for ‘unity’. We need to ask ourselves, what are we uniting around?”