Echoes of Reagan, Thatcher, and Blair: Tory Leadership Hopefuls Aim to Revive Party Fortunes

Candidates vying for the Conservative leadership are drawing inspiration from Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair as they strive to secure a spot in the final round of the contest. Robert Jenrick has pledged to create a "New Conservative Party," mirroring the "New Labour" slogan that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown employed to transition the Labour Party from 18 years in the opposition to leading the government.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 3:

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Candidates vying for the Conservative leadership paid homage to their political inspirations, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, during their concluding remarks before the selection process narrows to two finalists.

Despite the lack of affection for Sir Keir Starmer, amid quips concerning the controversy over giveaways and claims of controlled deterioration, one candidate also invoked his forerunner Sir Tony Blair by proposing the concept of a "New Conservative Party".

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Robert Jenrick's remarks resonate with the "New Labour" ideology previously espoused by the former prime minister, an approach that revitalized the Labour Party and led them to victory in three successive elections following an 18-year period out of power.

The Conservative Party aims to bounce back and achieve similar success following their historic loss in the July elections.

Mr. Jenrick is a contender for the leadership position, competing with Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, and Kemi Badenoch.

The addresses were delivered on the last day of the Conservative gathering in Birmingham, serving as a platform for the four contenders to present their arguments to fellow MPs and party members, who will ultimately decide on the victor.

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Ex-home secretary Mr. Cleverly addressed the conference, stating he "never intended to pursue leadership" and offered an apology to the attendees "on behalf of the Conservative parliamentary party for disappointing you."

His key point emphasized the need for the party to be more "energetic" and to present a vision of a brighter future in order to regain the support of those who defected to Labour and other parties.

"Let's Emulate Reagan's Example"

Echoing his political hero, former US President Ronald Reagan, he remarked: "Let's emulate Reagan. Let's be energetic, approachable, upbeat, and hopeful. Let's be more ordinary.

"Let's promote the advantages of conservatism cheerfully, because by doing so, we can overcome challenges from Reform and the Liberal Democrats, reclaim support from Labour, and invigorate the Conservatives who didn't vote in the previous general election, motivating them to get up from the couch, head to the polls, and cast their vote for the Conservative Party once more."

The speech did include some pointed remarks, though.

In addition to criticizing Sir Keir Starmer and Reform leader Nigel Farage, whom he vowed never to collaborate with, Mr. Cleverly also took jabs at other candidates. He specifically highlighted that, unlike others, he neither grumbled about immigration nor shied away from challenges during his tenure in government.

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Jenrick Promises a 'Revamped Conservative Party'

Mr. Jenrick, who resigned from his position as Rishi Sunak's immigration minister due to disagreements with the unsuccessful Rwanda asylum strategy, has placed this issue at the forefront of his campaign, expressing his desire to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in order to reinitiate the plan.

In his address, he frequently mentioned the emergence of a "new Conservative Party" guided by his leadership. He outlined a five-point strategy that includes opposing large-scale immigration, abolishing net zero policies, enhancing construction across Britain, advocating for a leaner government, and fostering national unity.

He also evoked a political role model, the former prime minister Mrs. Thatcher, arguing that the Conservatives must pursue reforms akin to those she implemented when she took over a Britain that was "fractured in the 1970s" by an "ineffective Labour government."

Badenoch: Moment for Honesty

Ms. Badenoch, known for her candidness, reiterated her core message that "it's time for honesty" and that the public desires truthful politicians.

The ex-minister of business stated that the party could be "wiped out" following the loss in the July election unless they take heed of its lessons. He attributed the defeat to the party’s deviation from traditional Conservative values, pointing to their support for the net zero initiative and policies that led to increased taxes and higher immigration levels.

"She stated that they did not stand up for capitalism."

'Call for a conservative overhaul'

In a recent address, ex-security minister Mr. Tugendhat, associated with the party's centrist "one nation" faction, emphasized the requirement for a "Conservative revolution."

Discussing migration, he suggested that the answer lies in "visas, not foreign courts," seemingly criticizing those rivals who have adopted a more aggressive stance on the issue.

He stated that the migration limit proposed by Mr. Jenrick would be ineffective due to the UK's skills shortage, which depends on immigration. He plans to address this issue by investing in more apprenticeship programs.

Next week, Tory MPs will narrow the contest to two candidates, after which the party members will make the final decision.

Prior to the conference, Mr. Jenrick and Ms. Badenoch were considered leading contenders from the conservative wing of their party. However, disputes this week have clouded their campaigns, and recent Sky News polls indicate that every candidate now has a potential route to win.

Mr. Jenrick is facing scrutiny after stating in a promotional video that UK special forces prefer to kill terrorists instead of capturing them, due to concerns that detainees might be freed under European human rights legislation.

Mr. Tugendhat expressed that the remarks concerning the SAS were "incorrect" and he found it "disturbing" that the video included clips of a serviceman he knew from his time in Afghanistan, who passed away shortly thereafter.

Ms. Badenoch has faced backlash for stating that 10% of civil servants are so inept "they should be in jail," a remark she later described as humorous, and for indicating that maternity pay is "excessive," which she later clarified was taken out of context.

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