Within the next few minutes, the former conservative Home Secretary, James Cleverly, will try to win over his fellow conservative mps as he launches campaign to become leader of the party. Mr cleverly is one of the front runners to replace Rishi Sunak following the Conservatives Defeat atjuly� s election. He is among six candidates vying for the job, and those candidates will be whittled down to four by the time of the conservative conference at The End of the month. After that, mps will carry out further rounds of voting to select two final candidates for the conservative members to choose between, with the result announced on 2nd november. Lets speak to our deputy political editor, vicki young, who joins us from westminster. Hello. Any hint as to what we are likely to hear from James Cleverly. I think he will talk about some specific policies. We can really say this Leadership Election has been rumbling along in the background over the summer. We have had a bit from all of the candidates, they have written articles. This really is the week where they start doing much more in public. A lot of them have been travelling around the country speaking to Conservative Party members. They are the ones who will decide this contest when it gets down to the last two and that an accident happens in november. From James Cleverly, he will be a figure who is very well known, probably to members of the public but certainly to them Conservative Party. He has been Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and he has served under the three previous tory Prime Ministers. He originally worked for borisjohnson when he was mayor of london. He has an awful lot of experience, he says he is the one to really try and bring the party together. He will talk, as we heard earlier from together. He will talk, as we heard earlierfrom Kemi Badenoch as together. He will talk, as we heard earlier from Kemi Badenoch as well about having a smaller state, saying the government really should be doing less but doing it better rather than doing everything badly, as he put it and he is really pitching himself as a pragmatist, someone who can make government work. Today he will talk about the specific policy and that will be about stamp duty. That is the Tax Thatis about stamp duty. That is the tax that is paid when you buy a house over a certain threshold. He is saying that eventually he would like that tax to be scrapped. figs saying that eventually he would like that tax to be scrapped. fissi saying that eventually he would like that tax to be scrapped. That tax to be scrapped. As i told thee ust that tax to be scrapped. As i told thee just now. That tax to be scrapped. As i told thee just now, there that tax to be scrapped. As i told thee just now, there are that tax to be scrapped. As i told thee just now, there are six thee just now, there are six candidates in all, can you give us a Brief Overview . We candidates in all, can you give us a Brief Overview . Candidates in all, can you give us a Brief Overview . We have heard from Kemi BadenochBrief Overview . We have heard from Kemi Badenoch earlier. Brief overview . We have heard from Kemi Badenoch earlier. She Brief Overview . We have heard from Kemi Badenoch earlier. She is Kemi Badenoch earlier. She is considered by some to be a front runner and she made a Speech Today and she was talking about herself as somebody who likes to get things done. She said she is an engineer and she knows how you can make things work. That is her pitch. She says the party needs to renew. That is something you will hear from all of them after the terrible Election Defeat they suffered. Priti patel has been defending her record on immigration. Of course she is a previous Home Secretary. Than robert jenrick, talking about and offer you can get to younger people about the need to build more houses. They are already saying you cannotjust need to build more houses. They are already saying you cannot just sit back and criticise what labour is doing, the party really has to have some fresh thinking and think about its principles and where it goes from there. Tom tugendhat would describe himself as a One Nation conservative. He wants to really be in the centre of the party and his Pictures Pitch is coming from that side. Another close ally of Rishi Sunak during the Election Scene and very much a safe pair of hands. Some of his colleagues saying he might be the first one to drop out of the race on wednesday that are important to say to people there is this first round of voting. Conservative mps were whittled that number from six to five on wednesday. Number from six to five on Wednesday Number from six to five on wednesda. ,. ,. , ~ ,. , wednesday. Sterling ob. Thank you. I will let wednesday. Sterling ob. Thank you. Lwillletyou wednesday. Sterling ob. Thank you. I will let you get wednesday. Sterling job. Thank you. I will let you get back wednesday. Sterling job. Thank you. I will let you get back to wednesday. Sterling job. Thank you. I will let you get back to listening i will let you get back to listening to that speech. Lets speak to katy balls, who is political editor of the spectator. That is the stage at westminster. We are waiting forJames Cleverly to take to that to tell us why he thinks he should lead the Conservative Party. Katie bols is also with me. Lets start off with what we heard earlier from also with me. Lets start off with what we heard earlierfrom Kemi Badenoch. Your thoughts. Kemi badenoch. Your thoughts. Kemi badenoch in badenoch. Your thoughts. Kemi badenoch in some badenoch. Your thoughts. Kemi badenoch in some ways badenoch. Your thoughts. Kemi badenoch in some ways is badenoch. Your thoughts. Irn badenoch in some ways is seen as the front runner when the Leadership Contest was first called. It was pretty true to her today. She said unlike some other candidates, cough, James Cleverly, here are about to hear from, James Cleverly, here are about to hearfrom, she didnt get into specific policies. She was talking more about her Frame Framework for how she looks at their work which controls her to some of her rivals who are more likely to say i would like to change this tax. Can who are more likely to say i would like to change this tax. Like to change this tax. Can you hear me . Like to change this tax. Can you hear me . Yes. Like to change this tax. Can you hear me . Yes. Sorry, like to change this tax. Can you hear me . Yes. Sorry, i like to change this tax. Can youi hear me . Yes. Sorry, i thought like to change this tax. Can you | hear me . Yes. Sorry, i thought i like to change this tax. Can you hear me . Yes. Sorry, i thought i had Lost Ou A hear me . Yes. Sorry, i thought i had lost you a moment. Hear me . 133 sorry, ithought i had lost you a moment. James cleverly will speak, well, lost you a moment. James cleverly willspeak, well, in lost you a moment. James cleverly will speak, well, in a matter of minutes, we hope. What do you make of him as a potential leader of the tories . I of him as a potential leader of the tories . ,. , ~ of him as a potential leader of the tories . ,. , ~ , tories . I do not think he is the favourite tories . I do not think he is the favourite to tories . I do not think he is the favourite to win. Tories . I do not think he is the favourite to win. I tories . I do not think he is the favourite to win. I think tories . I do not think he is the favourite to win. I think it tories . I do not think he is the favourite to win. I think it is i favourite to win. I think it is plausible to see a path forJames Cleverly. If you can make it to the final format where you can start to see more centrist mps start to move in behind him. When you look at the membership polling, he does do fairly well with the membership. He is quite well liked in the party. Not everyones first choice but quite a lot of peoples second choice, if that makes sense. He is seen as a Team Player, someone who has ultimately taken jobs in the past. He was Home Secretary after Suella Braverman left and that was seen as a bit of a hospital pass. He was criticised a bit that it showed mps he was willing to do probably what would help the government as a whole the many his personal ambitions at the time. How whole the many his personal ambitions at the time. How tight do ou think ambitions at the time. How tight do you think this ambitions at the time. How tight do you think this race ambitions at the time. How tight do you think this race actually ambitions at the time. How tight do you think this race actually is . Ambitions at the time. How tight do you think this race actually is . A you think this race actually is . A lot of talk that all that thats really where on Kemi Badenoch. Then we had from priti patel. Some are saying she is also a strong contender and she spoke on friday. The race is quite wide open. Previous contests, much more of a sense of who the strong favour is. Kemi badenochs challenges getting to the final two, decided by the mp5. When you get to the tory mps. When you get to the tory grassroots pick. If she can get to the final two, she is going to be the final two, she is going to be the favourite. The struggle to get there will be tricky, i think. A few votes moving here and there will change it. Robertjenrick, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, they are the three looking furthest ahead at the three looking furthest ahead at The Moment. You can see some other candidates coming up from behind. I think it is too hard to say clearly who is likely to be leader, particularly because it is such a long contest. There is a lot to play forfor long contest. There is a lot to play for for each of the candidates. Hour for for each of the candidates. How would ou for for each of the candidates. How would you describe the state of the Conservative Party at The Moment . Pretty small and probably demoralised. 121 mps and pretty small and probably demoralised. 121mps and a pretty small and probably demoralised. 121mps and a huge mountain to climb to get back into power. All of the candidates so far as suggesting they can do it in one term. They had to stay there. There is scepticism because of how heavy the loss was and because of nigel farages reform party, it could take longer than four or five years to be in a place to win again. Also the risk that things get worse for the tories but they are low on funding and have tricky local elections next year. It cannot be taken as a given that the only way is up. It is a huge challenge for whoever gets in. Probably the biggest cause of optimism was Keir Starmer because he did recoverfrom a bad defeat of his party to win quite well quite quickly. Party to win quite well quite cuickl. , ~ , quickly. The thing that strikes me and i quickly. The thing that strikes me and i suppose quickly. The thing that strikes me and i suppose it quickly. The thing that strikes me and i suppose it would quickly. The thing that strikes me and i suppose it would because i quickly. The thing that strikes me and i suppose it would because ll quickly. The thing that strikes me i and i suppose it would because i am still sensitive to it all is the racial Cross Section of those candidates. We have an asian woman, we had two black candidates and three white men. When you think about how far we have come a long, what do you think this tells us about politics, particularly the Conservative Party . It about politics, particularly the Conservative Party . About politics, particularly the Conservative Party . It does tell us the conservative Conservative Party . It does tell us the Conservative PartyConservative Party . It does tell us the Conservative Party is Conservative Party . It does tell us the Conservative Party is quite the Conservative Party is quite diverse. They are all sick as they like to tell anyone repeatedly, the party that brought the first female Prime Minister. They did not manage that with the first female chancellor, labour did that with rachel reeves. Rishi sunak also made history when he entered number 10 downing street. It tells us this is a party where actually it is interesting that so far it has not come up as too much of a point of observation that you have quite a diverse range of candidates. I think it is telling are probably where the Conservative Party has got to that you do have this and it is not something that is seen as going to hold any candidate back with their members. It doesnt come up in conversation. Members. It doesnt come up in conversation members. It doesnt come up in conversation. , ~ ,. ,. Conversation. Thank you very much. We are going conversation. Thank you very much. We are going to conversation. Thank you very much. We are going to come conversation. Thank you very much. We are going to come back conversation. Thank you very much. We are going to come back to conversation. Thank you very much. We are going to come back to you i we are going to come back to you later. I know you will be listening in to that speech as well. For viewers who are justjoining us, thatis viewers who are justjoining us, that is the stage in westminster and we are waiting forJames Cleverly to take to that stage and tell conservative members and also us why he thinks he should become the next leader of the Conservative Party. He of course is a former. He has held quite high profilejobs in government, former Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary as well. We did hearfrom Kemi Badenoch, the business minister, in the tory government in the last hour. She launched her campaign to become leader of the party. This is some of what she had to say. Labour had no ideas. At best they are renouncing things we have already done and at their worst they are clueless, irresponsible and dishonest. They are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the public about the state of britains finances, placing political donors into civil service jobs, pretending they have no plans to cut Pension Benefits before the election and then doing exactly that to cover the cost of pay rises for the unions with no promise of reform. But their model of spend, spend, spend is broken and they do not know what to do. This will only lead to even more cynicism in politics. They are already making worse mistakes than we did. But if we want to become she was telling members of the party wh did. Should become the she was telling members of the party wh did. But uld become the she was telling members of the party wh did. But if d become the she was telling members of the party wh did. But if we ecome the she was telling members of the party wh did. But if we want e the she was telling members of the party wh did. But if we want to he she was telling members of the party wh did. But if we want to become worthy of the british Peoples Trust we did. But if we want to become worthy of the british Peoples Trust again, we cannotjust sit around again, we cannotjust sit around pointing out how terrible labour pointing out how terrible labour are. ~. , are. ~. , pointing out how terrible labour are, ~. ,. , pointing out how terrible labour are, ~. ,. , pointing out how terrible labour are. ,. ,. , are. We are ust waiting. That was kemi pointing out how terrible labour are. ,. ,. , are. We are ust waiting. That was kemi are. We are just waiting. That was Kemi Badenoch, are. We are just waiting. That was Kemi Badenoch, who are. We are just waiting. That was Kemi Badenoch, are. We are just waiting. That was Kemi Badenoch, who are. We are just waiting. That was Kemi Badenoch, who spoke are. We are just waiting. That was. Kemi badenoch, who spoke earlier. Are. We are just waiting. That was Kemi Badenoch, who spoke are. We are just waiting. That was. Kemi badenoch, who spoke earlier. She was telling members of the party she was telling members of the party why she should become the why she should become the next leader of the tory party. On the screen now is another tory mp. These are just the introductory speeches before James Cleverly takes to that stage. And formally launches his campaign. So she is the mp for Leicester East, who is speaking at The Moment. Earlier, Kemi Badenoch, The Moment. Earlier, Kemi Badenoch, the theme of her speech very much renewal. We are expecting to hear from James Cleverly, telling us it is all about family first. So do not forget that you can continue to watch Bbc News on the iplayer. We will be leaving our viewers on bbc two. If you would like to stay tuned to the channel. He will be tuning into politics i am sure you will keep up to date with the latest events unfolding in westminster. Stay with us here, this is Bbc News. I want to win over young voters. The mp for Leicester East speaking. The former home and Foreign Secretary under the conservative government who is going to be taking to the stage. He will who is going to be taking to the stage. Ithe ill who is going to be taking to the stage. Ithe second round of voting, week is the second round of voting, the second candidate leaves. By The End of september in birmingham, we will be watching the conservative annual conference and i will only be four candidates who will then be attending the conference. We find out in a final vote he will be leader of the Conservative Party in november, early november. We will be coming back to the stage in westminster to hear from James Cleverly. The way that 0fsted the way that 0fsted Decribe Schools in England Decribe schools in england with one or two words with one or two words like outstanding or inadequate like outstanding or inadequate is being scrapped is being scrapped with immediate effect. With immediate effect. Last year an inquest found an 0fsted last year an inquest found an 0fsted Inspection had contributed inspection had contributed to the suicide of primary to the suicide of primary headteacher ruth perry, leading headteacher ruth perry, leading to widespread calls for change. To widespread calls for change. Editor, branwenjeffreys. The government says giving schools single words the government says giving schools single words to describe their Performance Isnt to describe their Performance Isnt fair oraccurate, but fair oraccurate, but the conservatives say the system the conservatives say the system is a vital indicator for parents. Is a vital indicator for parents. Heres our education heres our education editor, branwenjeffreys. Grant shapps has just taken to the stage. He will be introducing James Cleverly. In stage. He will be introducing james cleverl. stage. He will be introducing james cleverl. . , �. ,. , stage. He will be introducing james cleverl. . ,. ,. , cleverly. In 2005 Tony Blair won a third consecutive cleverly. In 2005 Tony Blair won a third consecutive victory. Cleverly. In 2005 Tony Blair won a third consecutive victory. I cleverly. In 2005 Tony Blair won a third consecutive victory. I have i third consecutive victory. I have seen us fight back from the obscurity of opposition. Write to downing street. I know what it takes. I know the qualities required, the leader that will bring us back to power and back to life. You have got to have somebody who is really clear minded. Someone with a vision of What Britain should and could look like under the conservatives. Someone who is capable of selling that vision, not through pessimism but for the optimism of what this country can become. Not through platitudes and Sound Bites but through actual delivery. It has to be someone truly able to leave team. I have had the privilege of occupying quite a number of roles in the cabinet. He would have to go somewhere back. That has given me a unique perspective on our colleagues. You get to see the different styles, how various different secretaries of state work, you get to study their approaches can see what works and what frankie does not. My friends, there is who knows how to set out a compelling vision around the cabinet table. Someone who knows how to get the most out of his team when leading one. He is the person who has a Track Record of delivery and that man is James Cleverly. Applause at the Foreign Office they shifted diplomatic focus from chasing sluggish Eu Growth markets and redirecting attention towards global opportunities that are available post brexit. Horrific hamas attacks. When he and i work together to rally international support for ukraine, as ever, james didntjust talk, he acted and delivered. Then at the Home Office he delivered the measures which have now helped to cut net migration in half. He signed a treaty with rwanda instead that bill through parliament. He didnt just talk he acted. James is a real doer. , just talk he acted. James is a real doer. , ,. , just talk he acted. James is a real doer. ,. ,. , doer. That is grant shapps, former secretary of doer. That is grant shapps, former Secretary Of State doer. That is grant shapps, former Secretary Of State for doer. That is grant shapps, former Secretary Of State for defence. Secretary of state for defence. Starting up his speech pointing out he has held various positions within cabinet. I believe some six positions. His last one under the tory government was Secretary Of State for defence. He is introducing James Cleverly, who is putting himself forward as a candidate to be leader of the Conservative Party. Earlier today we heard from Kemi Badenoch as well, telling her name into the hat. We are going to be crossing back to westminster once James Cleverly, former Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary takes to that Stage A Mission for our government, which is to make sure that every single child, whatever their background, wherever they come from, has the best possible education. This Move Today is about driving up standards, making sure that weve got a richer picture so parents can see in a more accountable way the real strength of a school, and making sure weve got the improvements Trade Unions and groups representing the families of israeli hostages are holding a general strike to press businesses, schools and otherforms of transport have also been hit. The stoppage is a day after the Israeli Army said it had recovered the bodies of six hostages who were taken during the attacks of 7th october. That led to mass Demonstrations Injerusalem and Tel AvivOn Sunday and also today, with the organisers calling on prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a deal with hamas to bring home the estimated 100 remaining hostages. Sundays protests were largely peaceful, but some crowds broke James Cleverly will be heading onto that stage shortly. This is the video that we here just before we hear from the candidates themselves. 0ur Correspondentjon Donnison has been following the story. After the biggest protests in israel since the start of the war in gaza, with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating across the Country Today a general strike. So thousands of businesses are going to be closed. Some schools, universities, government ministries, so were expecting a major hit on the economy here today in israel. And the outrage against hamas is a given. But these protests are not about that. These protests are against the government of prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is accused of pursuing his uh, in in sacrifice of a Hostage Release and Cease Fire Deal in gaza. Mr netanyahu insists that the best way to get the remaining hostages out of gaza is to keep applying Military Pressure on hamas. However, many, many people in israel dont feel that way, including some of the hostage families. They have accused mr. Netanyahu of having the blood of their Loved Ones on his hands. There were chants of murderer at last nights protest. And its notjust the public, it is also within his own government. So weve had reports in the last week of a Shouting Match between the Prime Minister and his defence minister, yoav galant, who says that, in effect, Mr Netanyahu is blocking this deal with hamas im incredibly grateful for the support that you and others have given me. Im very proud of your support and grants, thank you so much. Im incredibly grateful. We must make sure that we get the experience that we lost at the last general election. When they are fed up with the Red Tape loving big states cruelly filled government. They will look to us to be the change they want to i have spoken on the half of the government for six years. Now i plan to take us back into government. I have been a Team Player under four different Prime Ministers. I have defended other peoples decisions and policies. I plan to take those policies. Today i will set out my vision for this great Country And Show why i am uniquely suited to unite the party to win at the next general election. We need to recognise it is not enough for a conservative leader to lead like this our party is at its best when it provides clear and a positive vision for baiters. When we provide the right solutions for the challenges our country and our world face. Robert peel saw in inequality between days to protect staff and the poor who could not. He created the metropolitan police to protect the poor. Disraeli saw in justice. To protect the poor. Disraeli saw injustice. He to protect the poor. Disraeli saw in justice. He saw injustice of children doing dangerous work. Drinking disease ridden water. He brought in the Factory Act and the public health act. Churchill Saw Fascism and stood up churchill Saw Fascism and stood up to it. Thatcher saw economic defeatism and reverse debt. That decisiveness is what we need to show now and what i will. Reversed it. The challenges of today are different to the challenges of the past. We must have the courage of our conservative full baz to tackle the great problems of our time. Let me set out what i believe the three great challenges are that we face. We must and i well with your support tackle head on. I will. The first of these challenges is a deeply unstable world. The Warning Lights were flashing red well before vladimir putins full Scale Invasion of ukraine and the sad fact there are few reasons to believe the world will be any safer or more secure anytime soon. Authoritarian regimes are increasingly trying to undermine our way of life, the international rules that kept us safe are under threat. I have seen the threat our country faced. I have been in charge of m16, m15, gchq. I have been to ukraine. I had been to taiwan, to the baltic, the caucasus. I have looked at russian soldiers occupying Land Thatis russian soldiers occupying land that is not theirs. I was the first Foreign Minister to visit israel after the 7th Of October atrocities. When grant was Secretary Of State for defence, he set out a timetable to spend 2. 5 of gdp on defence by 2030. I supported grant when he made the bold decision then, but i will go further. I