The Conservative Party leadership campaigns were front and centre at the Party’s Conference last week in Birmingham, and I was very pleased to see so many local supporters travel to the Conference to hear the speeches live in the main hall.
Party Conferences are always busy and tiring events, and I was kept busier than ever before with speaking engagements in my role as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I was able to defend the future of the Union, and champion the future of the four UK nations. I have no wish to see the Union breakdown, and believe it would be to the detriment of all four nations if the separatists get their way.
However, the current Conservative Party leadership campaign was the draw for most attendees, with each of the four remaining candidates – Kemi Badenock, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugenhat – getting their moment in the spotlight in front of dedicated party members in a packed hall to lay out their plans and aspirations for our country and our party.
We’re in the final month of this leadership campaign now, with the parliamentary party voting to choose the final two candidates before a vote by Conservative Party members. The ballot closes on 31st October and the result will be announced on Saturday 2nd November.
I am supporting Kemi Badenoch for leader - she’s a deep thinker, a formidable debater and a brave and honest politician. Whoever wins I look forward to my party focusing on highlighting the Labour Government’s attack on poorer pensioners and some of the most vulnerable in society, and drawing attention to the series of scandals which has already hit the new Prime Minister and his colleagues.
