UK politics live: Centrist Tories reject both leadership rivals as Jenrick attacks Badenoch’s ‘needless drama’

Bridget Phillipson has been urged to take immediate action to tackle the use of smartphones by children in schools by a group of educators “deeply concerned” about their impact.

In an open letter to the education secretary, 30 education leaders said there is clear evidence that “children at smartphone-free schools do better”, urging her to put in place effective restrictions on their use.

Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story below:

Robert Jenrick has insisted his team did not trade any votes during yesterday’s shocking vote that saw James Cleverly out of the race,

He said that the campaign team worked “relentlessly” to gather the most votes.

“And I think you will have seen in the way that I have conducted myself over the summer that we have worked hard,” he added.

Reports suggested a strategic voting may have played a role in his exit.

Shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake claimed that there were unexpected voting patterns leading to Mr Cleverly downfall during Wednesday’s MP ballot, where he garnered only 37 votes.

Robert Jenrick is now taking questions from the press.

He has been asked whether he would end mass migration even if it damaged economic growth.

The Tory leadership wannabe said: “I think that is a false choice. As I have set out consistently I don’t believe the age of mass migration has made any of us richer.

“In 25 years since Tony Blair became prime minister, 5.9 million people net have come into our country and yet this has been a era marked by low economic growth and poor productivity growth.”

Mr Jenrick added that he plans to “end mass migration and fire up our economy”.

Robert Jenrick has called for the Conservatives to “pick ourselves back up” after the party’s worst general election defeat on record. 

“To do anything else means letting down the country,” the Tory leadership hopeful said. 

He has throwing thinly-veiled criticisms at rival Kemi Badenoch, suggesting she would focus on Twitter spats and unserious issues, while he would be focused on the public’s priorities.

Mr Jenrick said: “That’s how we regain the public’s trust. So my plan, grow the economy, reform our public services like the NHS, get migration done by capping the numbers and leaving the ECHR a serious plan, not needless drama.

“Let’s unite around the serious answers to the challenges our country faces, with courage, with competence, with conviction, to make the conservative case for change again.

“That’s how we win again, not in 15 years time, not in 10 years, but that is how we win the next general election.”

The Conservative Party has “no future” if it fails to advocate exiting the European Convention on Human Rights, Robert Jenrick has said.

At the Policy Exchange think tank, he told supporters at a speech: “Unless we leave our party has no future. To regain the trust of the British public we must truly do whatever it takes.”

Instead, Mr Jenrick vowed to introduce a legally binding cap on net migration of “tens of thousands or lower”.

He added: “My way is the promise of a plan, not a plan tomorrow. That won’t cut it. If we don’t get serious on migration our party won’t survive. It is as simple as that.”

Robert Jenrick has lashed out at Liz Truss and her disastrous 2022 mini budget.

One of many Tories keen to distance himself from the short-serving former PM, Mr Jenrick lumped her budget in with Labour’s borrowing plans - describing both as irresponsible.

He said: “I say that sound public finances are the bedrock of our prosperity, and that borrowing billions to fund vanity projects like Ed Miliband’s fantasy energy company is wrong.

“Just as borrowing billions to fund tax cuts in the 2022 mini budget was also wrong.”

Robert Jenrick is not setting the world alight with his Policy Exchange speech, with his feet planted firmly flat and his hands gripping the side of his podium.

He has been speaking for more than 10 minutes without letting go of the podium, and other than light head and shoulder movement, he is extremely still.

Robert Jenrick is harking back to the Brexit days, setting up a stark “leave v remain” choice for voters on the ECHR.

The Tory leadership hopeful believes the European Convention on Human Rights prevents Britain from being able to control illegal migration.

And, channelling Brexit, he said: “It is leave or remain, and I am for leave.”

Kemi Badenoch has not outright backed leaving the convention, but has said she would consider it if she deemed it necessary.

Robert Jenrick is promising that the government’s Rwanda deportation plan would have worked had it been strengthened.

The plan, to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda, was aimed to creating a deterrent to those crossing the English Channel.

But despite the government spending £700m on the policy, just four asylum seekers were sent to the east African nation - all of whom volunteered to go.

Immigration was the first topic Mr Jenrick touched upon, repeating his promise to leave the ECHR. It sets the stage for the issue to be a key dividing line with Kemi Badenoch in the race, and then with Sir Keir Starmer if Mr Jenrick wins.

Robert Jenrick is on stage at the Policy Exchange think tank promising to talk to supporters about “the real choice our country faces”.

He has said it is “great to be in the final two”, but is already turning toward how he will oppose Labour and Sir Keir Starmer as leader of the opposition.

Ignoring his rival Kemi Badenoch completely, he has said “our job is to send Keir Starmer packing”.

The right-winger has promised to be constructive where possible, but said Tories “must stand up for common sense for the British people on every issue”.