Tories cut Starmer’s poll lead to one point ahead of crucial leadership vote – Live updates
In a dramatic twist, the Conservatives have narrowed Labour’s lead to just one point, raising alarms for Sir Keir Starmer’s party months after its sweeping election victory.
The latest More in Common poll revealed the party now sits at 29 per cent, down one percentage point, while the Tories have gained two points, reaching 28 per cent.
This represents the smallest lead Labour has seen since the pollster began tracking voting intentions last year.
Sir Keir’s government is grappling with significant backlash over plans to limit winter fuel payments to pensioners receiving pension credit and the recent gifts row.
But the boost will be welcomed by the Tories, who prepare for a pivotal leadership vote today to narrow down the field to two candidates.
Four contenders, Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat are vying to position themselves as the next leader.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer is to chair his first cabinet meeting today since the announcement that Sue Gray would leave her post as his chief of staff just three months after Labour came to power.
Her successor, Morgan McSweeney, could attend the meeting as the prime minister seeks to bring Labour’s policy agenda back to the fore after weeks of reported infighting.
Key Points
Poll: Cleverly rises in Tory leadership race after strong conference performance
James Cleverly has surged ahead of Robert Jenrick, according to a post-conference survey by Conservative Home.
The poll indicates that the former home secretary has gained traction in both first preferences among party members and in a potential final face-off.
Analysis revealed that Mr Cleverly was the standout candidate at the recent Birmingham conference, with over half of respondents expressing a greater likelihood of supporting him, while only 14 per cent reported the opposite.
In contrast, other contenders, including Mr Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat, saw a notable decline in support.
Kemi Badenoch managed to maintain a stable position, with about a third of Tory members remaining neutral regarding their support for her.
Despite losing media attention due to a controversy over her comments on maternity pay, she faced only minor repercussions.
(Conservative Home)
‘Prisons on the brink’: Lord Timpson blames Tories for crisis
Lord James Timpson, minister of state for prisons has issued a stark warning about the state of the prison system.
He blamed the turmoil to the previous government’smismanagement. Speaking at the prison Governor’s association conference in Nottingham, Mr Timpson described the system as “teetering disaster” due to years of overcrowding and inadequate resources.
“It has not been easy to rehabilitate offenders in a system teetering on disaster,” he added.
He revealed that emergency measures had to be implemented to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order.
Highlighting recent public disorder as evidence of the system’s fragility, he claimed: “We came dangerously close to running out of prisons entirely.
“The last government allowed prisons to run so hot for so long, it was nothing short of a disgrace. We had no choice but to introduce emergency measures. To attempt to delay any further would have allowed our justice system to collapse.”
Boris Johnson says his Downing Street apartment resembled a ‘crack den’
Boris Johnson claimed the inside of his Downing Street apartment resembled a “crack den” before its refurbishment. The former prime minister defended his reported £200,000 refurb during an interview with LBC on Tuesday (8 October), insisting it “wasn’t as much as that”. Mr Johnson said: “Frankly, once I pulled the carpets out of the flat in number 11, which is where we lived, because Dylan was then in the stages of being — the whole thing was looking a bit like a crack den to be totally honest, and it needed to be refurbished.”
Tugendhat calls for party transformation as Tory MPs face critical choice
In a fervent appeal for support, Tom Tugendhat has urged Tory MPs to prioritise “change over continuity” as the race to succeed Rishi Sunak intensifies.
With four candidates remaining, including Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly and Robert Jenrick, Mr Tugendhat cited the need for a leader who resonates with the broader electorate rather than just the party base.
Posting on X, he warned that clinging to “the same old battles” would yield the same disappointing outcomes.
Mr Tugendhat added: “We [must] choose somebody who can speak to the whole country, who can actually make our message heard and who doesn’t just make us feel good in the room but makes us heard in the country.”
Louise Haigh teases major update on HS2
Transport secretary Louise Haigh has hinted that the long-anticipated High Speed 2 (HS2) rail line could potentially extend into central London.
In an interview with Times Radio, Ms Haigh suggested that an announcement regarding the project’s future would be forthcoming.
When asked about the feasibility of terminating the line at Euston, she replied: “It certainly would never have made sense to leave it between Old Oak Common and Birmingham.”
Asked if the announcement may come on 30 October, the date of the Budget, she added: “It may be made around those decisions.”
James Cleverly admits ‘mistake’ in declaration of freebies
Tory leadership contender James Cleverly has openly acknowledged a “mistake” in declaring gifts he received while attending high-profile sporting events.
Over the weekend, it was revealed that he attended both Wimbledon and the Women’s World Cup final with his wife, Susannah, without properly declaring expenses.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Mr Cleverly said: “James has always been fully transparent with any gifts and hospitality received.
“On this case there was a mistake in the declaration and we have contacted the FCDO to ask them to rectify it.”
This incident comes after Sir Keir Starmer faced backlash over tens of thousands of pounds in freebies since assuming his role.
The prime minister has since returned £6,000, which includes the cost of four tickets to Taylor Swift’s recent Eras Tour.
COMMENT | The fall of Sue Gray proves one thing, once and for all
…that too many cooks spoil the broth, writes Sean O’Grady. Or, to put it another way, why does the prime minister need a ‘chief of staff’ anyway?
Poll: Labour can’t rely on ethnic minority voters
Despite securing a significant majority in the last election, Labour’s grip on ethnic minority voters may be slipping.
A new report from the think tank UK in a Changing Europe has revealed that while ethnic minorities still lean left, voting 66 per cent for Labour, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats, this support can’t be taken for granted.
The pollster behind the study, James Kanagasooriam, highlighted a worrying trend. Labour’s appeal among these voters is more a historical legacy than a solid foundation.
He said: “Labour cannot rely on ethnic minority voters as a ‘bloc’ of support. It is true that the Labour Party still convinces a far greater proportion of minorities with ‘warm’ views of the party to vote for it than the Conservative Party does.
“But among many ethnic groups, there is a fundamental disjunction between opinion on the salient issues of the day and voting patterns.
“Our polling suggests that Labour support among ethnic minorities is an ossified cultural and historical legacy that could disappear very quickly.”
Chart reveals how ethnic minority voting behaviour shifted between 2019 and 2024. (Focaldata for UK in a Changing Europe )
