The big picture at Conservative party conference is that unless something changes, the next party leader will be Robert Jenrick. Tory MPs will vote next week to narrow down the field to a final pair, who will then be put before the members in an online ballot, with the result announced on November 2.

Robert Jenrick is closing in on Kemi Badenoch in the race to become the next Tory leader, a new poll has indicated. Six weeks ago, YouGov put Ms Badenoch 15 points ahead of Mr Jenrick, with party members backing the former business secretary by 48 per cent compared to Mr Jenrick’s 33 per cent if the two went head-to-head in the final round.

Robert Jenrick has been condemned by two of his Tory leadership rivals after he claimed the SAS kill rather than capture terrorists. The former immigration minister made the incendiary claim in a campaign video posted on X.