Here’s a look at what they each had to say.
Tom Tugendhat
Tom Tugendhat positioned himself as the candidate of “substance” and “principles,” calling for a Thatcher-style revolution to revive the Conservative Party. His speech struck a defiant tone, declaring that the UK “can’t afford Labour” and condemning Keir Starmer’s government as “the most venal and vindictive” in recent memory.
Tugendhat, who said he was frustrated with Westminster’s political games, promised to “rebuild CCHQ from the ground up” and make Conservative voters proud again. He pledged to transform the party into a “campaigning winning machine” ahead of the general election, adding: “My mission is to win, and I have never failed a mission yet.”
He laid out plans for an “effective deterrent” on legal migration, proposing a cap of 100,000 a year, while acknowledging that businesses still need workers for sectors like health and social care. Tugendhat also vowed to strip back “excess regulations” from the NHS and deliver “great education wherever you live.”
James Cleverly
James Cleverly focused on reconnecting the Conservative Party with the British people, acknowledging past mistakes. He began by apologising to party members on behalf of Tory MPs, saying, “we have to be better, much better,” but also urged the party to be “proud of our record,” including achievements like delivering Brexit and cutting crime. “Don’t let anyone trash our record,” he added.
Cleverly positioned himself as the candidate capable of steering the party back to its core values, and said the party should draw inspiration from his “political hero” Ronald Reagan. “Let’s be enthusiastic, relatable, positive, optimistic,” he said. “Let’s be more normal.”
He dismissed any talk of merging with Reform UK, describing it as a “pale imitation” of the Conservative Party and taking credit for policies such as Brexit. “Reform didn’t deliver Brexit, I did. Reform didn’t cut immigration, I did,” he added, saying there would be “no mergers, no deals.”
His platform prioritised cutting “bad taxes” like stamp duty and ensuring that work always pays by making sure the state never takes more than half of every pound that someone earns. He also committed to increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP and promised to “build, build, build” while safeguarding the greenbelt.
In a dig at other rivals who he said lacked experience in big Cabinet roles, Cleverly said: “We need to choose someone to lead us who has already done their apprenticeship, and get this party winning again.”
Robert Jenrick
Robert Jenrick framed his campaign as a bid to return to Thatcherite conservatism, vowing to overhaul the party just as she did in the 1970s. “We must free ourselves from Tony Blair’s Human Rights Act and leave the ECHR,” he declared, promising a tougher stance on migration and national sovereignty.
He said the Tories had failed “failed to deliver the strong NHS, the strong economy and, yes, the strong border we promised”.
Jenrick criticised Labour’s policies, accusing them of “robbing poor pensioners to placate union paymasters,” and set out a “New Conservative Party” vision. He argued that the “sheer scale” of mass migration was undermining Britain’s social cohesion and vowed to introduce an “effective freeze” on migration numbers, in reference to his long-standing pledge to reduce net migration.
In language used by Reform UK MPs, Jenrick outlined five key ‘stands’ that the Tories must make. These included “securing our borders” by deporting illegal migrants, managing net zero policies sensibly, and building more housing while protecting the countryside. Jenrick also pledged to restore Britain’s identity and culture, standing up to the “establishment that puts Britain last”.
Kemi Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch delivered a fiery speech, declaring “I’m here to say enough,” as she took aim at both Labour and her own party’s recent shortcomings. She argued that the Conservative Party had lost faith in its core values, saying “we stopped being leaders and became managers,” and called for the Tories to return to being the party of wealth creation.
Badenoch took aim at Keir Starmer, referring to him as “socialism in a suit,” and warned that Labour’s leadership would push the country into decline. “The Conservative Party reverses decline,” she claimed, as she laid out her vision for a revitalised and principled future for the party.
Recalling her upbringing in Nigeria, Badenoch said she deeply valued “Conservative freedoms” and had “seen what happens when a country loses sight of those principles.”
She expressed scepticism about current net zero policies, stressing that while she believes in climate change, the response must align with Conservative principles. She also noted that young Tories often feel pressured to hide their political beliefs due to fear of backlash or being “marked down” in academic settings.
On policy, Badenoch announced a “once in a generation” reform, promising a “comprehensive plan to reprogramme the British state.” Her proposals included overhauling international agreements, human rights laws, the Treasury, the Bank of England, the civil service, and the NHS.
