Cleverly's pledge to Tory faithful: I want heel of state off your neck

JAMES Cleverly will tell the Tory faithful he wants to get Government out of people's lives during a final pitch to members.

- Steph Spyro

The former Home Secretary, Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat will each give 20-minute speeches on the final day of the Conservative Party conference today.

They are hoping to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Tories on November 2.

Speaking in Birmingham, Mr Cleverly will say: "Everyone running needs to ask themselves do they want to be the leader or do they want to lead? I know what I want to do.

"I want to get the heel of the state off your neck, get their noses out of your business and their hands out of your pocket."

He is hoping to set out his vision for a "positive and optimistic following Conservatism" the bruising defeat at the general election on July 4.

Cleverly's comments come as Labour plans to renationalise the railways and for Britain to have a state-owned energy company.

Mr Cleverly plans to "talk up" Conservative values and add that the only way for the Tories to beat Reform is to be the "best version of the Conservative Party".

The former Foreign Secretary will say: "Let's be enthusiastic, relatable, positive, optimistic.

"Never forget - Reform didn't deliver Brexit, we did. Reform didn't cut immigration, I did.