ajid Javid has warned that the Conservatives face “electoral oblivion” if they do not change.
Launching his bid to be prime minister on Monday, the former health secretary said: “Over the last couple of years, our reputation on most values and policies has slid away. Too many people now believe that Labour are fit to govern. Some of them say that Labour are more competent and even more likely to cut taxes.”
So far 11 Tory MPs have put themselves forward for the top job following Boris Johnson’s resignation last week – with Home Secretary Priti Patel set to decide whether she’ll join the race. Earlier, Liz Truss joined the bidding war, vowing to cut taxes “from day one” and scrapping the NI hike that hit in April.
The 1922 Committee of backbench MPs was electing a new executive committee on Monday, before drawing up a timetable for the leadership contest.
An announcement on the schedule for the leadership campaign was expected to follow later in the evening.
It is also possible the committee will increase the number of nominations required for a candidate to make the first round of voting.
Live updates
Governor of Bank of England says Nadhim Zahawi wrong to promise tax cuts in media round
The Governor of the Bank of England has said he does not agree with Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi for promising tax cuts in media interviews.
Andrew Bailey said that there are some things that should only be said when the Chancellor is announcing a Budget.
Mr Bailey was being quizzed by MPs, including over the promises made by Mr Zahawi to cut income tax by 2p over the next two years as part of his campaign to become the next Tory leader.
He said: “I don’t like offering views on the constitution, but I don’t think things that should be done in Budgets can ultimately be done outside Budgets but, obviously, all of you have all sorts of views on these matters.”
Mr Zahawi is one of many candidates vying to cut taxes if they become the next prime minister.
Others, including Attorney General Suella Braverman, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and former foreign and health secretary Jeremy Hunt, have also promised to reduce taxes.
Former minister Robert Jenrick, who is backing Rishi Sunak for the top job, on Monday criticised the candidates for “announcing fantasy tax cuts to help get through a leadership election, I think, is unwise”.
Tory MP warns Jacob Rees-Mogg to stay out of election race
Tory MP Steve Baker warned Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg against standing in the Tory leadership contest, warning he would fail to win a general election.
The campaign manager for Attorney General Suella Braverman told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “There’s a danger of fragmentation.
“Kemi Badenoch has decided to stand, I’m afraid as much fond as I am of Kemi, it’s a bit improbable.
“She hasn’t been in the Cabinet; Suella has been in the Cabinet and without Cabinet experience it’s difficult to see that somebody – while we’re in power – should become prime minister.
“There is a grave danger of fragmentation, Priti (Patel, the Home Secretary) is standing, Jacob is apparently standing.
“We’ll see whether he actually does. I love Jacob like a brother but he wouldn’t win a general election, I’m quite sure, so I hope to dissuade him, amongst others. It’s a nonsense to have candidates standing all over the place.”
Sajid Javid grilled over tax affairs at Tory leadership campaign launch
Sajid Javid was repeatedly challenged about his personal tax affairs.
The Tory leadership hopeful has previously disclosed that for six years while working as an international banker and before entering politics he was non-domiciled for tax purposes.
But under questioning from reporters he refused to give details of which jurisdictions he paid taxes in.
At his leadership launch he said: “I believe I’ve been open and transparent about this. I’ve set out before this campaign that, because… before politics my job was an international job, I travelled a lot.
“I lived in the (United) States, I lived in the UK, I lived in Singapore, I was tax resident in different countries, as part of my job, it had an impact on my statuses. That’s not unusual.
“I had a tax adviser, accountants that would help me with my international taxes, I moved around a lot.
“And the test for me was to make sure that whatever you do, when it comes to your taxes, your personal tax affairs, that is always correct, proper, within all the rules, and that was met at all times.
“So I am perfectly happy about that. And I am certain that I’ve never had an issue with HMRC. I’ve never had a tax investigation. I’ve always been transparent, fully transparent, with the tax authorities.”
Sajid Javid will hold daily press briefings if he becomes PM
Sajid Javid said he will hold briefings for the media on a daily basis after Boris Johnson ditched the idea.
Asked at the launch of his campaign if he would carry out the briefings he replied “yes”.
The briefings were to be run by Allegra Stratton, who resigned over the parties held at Downing Street.
Sajid Javid ‘feels the heat’ as launches Tory leadership campaign
Sajid Javid launched his Tory leadership campaign in a sweltering conference room where he mopped his brow and told assembled journalists “it’s hot in here”.
He launched his bid to be Prime Minister by issuing copies of his economic plan and fielding questions on his vision for Britain.
On development in London he hinted at more skyscrapers saying: “I think we can sensibly build upwards”. He also said tax cuts were needed to boost growth.
Sajid Javid says Tories faced ‘electoral oblivion’ under Boris Johnson
Sajid Javid has warned that the Conservatives face “electoral oblivion” if they do not change.
Launching his bid to be prime minister, the former health secretary said: “Over the last couple of years, our reputation on most values and policies has slid away. Too many people now believe that Labour are fit to govern. Some of them say that Labour are more competent and even more likely to cut taxes.”
Mr Javid added that the political situation was starting to “feel very familiar”, referring to the Tory party’s defeat in 1997, saying: “The way things were going recently, I feared our party was on a trajectory to the same electoral oblivion once again.”
He said: “We cannot be complacent about the situation we are now in. This is a ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ moment.”
Sajid Javid says Tory leadership race ‘’cannot become like Game of Thrones’ as he launches bid to be leader
Sajid Javid appealed for Tory leadership contenders to play fair in the race or risk the process descending into a ‘Game of Thrones’ like battle as he also issued a pledge to cut taxes and an economic plan.
He said at a campaign launch: “Today I’m launching my new Conservative economic plan. This is a substantive document. If we can’t grow our economy we can’t get a hearing on any other issue. We need tax cuts for growth. We are not owed a prosperous future.”
He said: “We have to unite our best ideas and best people … the public want to see less personalities and more plain old getting on with the job. Let’s come out of this as one team. We are the most successful multi-racial democracy in the world.”
Breaking: Health dept reprimanded over use of private messaging channels by ministers
The Department of Health and Social Care has been formally reprimanded by the information watchdog on the use of private messaging channels by ministers and officials during the pandemic.
A year-long review by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) found a lack of clear controls had the potential to result in important information being lost or mishandled.
It called for a Government-wide review into the use of such channels across Whitehall.
The Information Commissioner John Edwards said: “I understand the value of instant communication that something like WhatsApp can bring, particularly during the pandemic where officials were forced to make quick decisions and work to meet varying demands.
“However, the price of using these methods, although not against the law, must not result in a lack of transparency and inadequate data security.
“Public officials should be able to show their workings, for both record keeping purposes and to maintain public confidence. That is how trust in those decisions is secured and lessons are learnt for the future.”
Rees-Mogg wouldn’t win a general election, says Baker
Tory MP Steve Baker has said he does not believe that Cabinet Office minister Jacob Rees-Mogg can win a General Election.
Mr Baker told Sky News: “Well, I understand Jacob Rees-Mogg has been encouraged to stand but it is not too indiscreet to say that as I said to him this morning I don’t think he would win but what he would do is split the votes.”
He added that “much as I love Jacob like a brother I don’t think Jacob would win a general election”.
Commons to sit at 3.30pm
The House of Commons Monday sitting will begin at 3.30pm following a delay caused by a water leak.
The Commons’ official Twitter account said: “Today’s sitting is delayed due to a water leak in the House of Commons Chamber. The House of Commons will sit at 3.30pm.”
