UK politics live: Starmer pays back £6,000 in gifts amid donations row as Lord Alli faces interest probe

Now attacking the Labour Party, James Cleverly said that the Labour Party is “drunk on power” an accused Sir Keir Starmer of “lying to the British people”.

The former home secretary added: “Compare that with what we saw at the Labour Party conference just last week. A party drunk on power who lied to the British people. Glasses for passes, favours for friends, swamped in scandal.

“And even worse inflation-busting pay rises to their union paymasters taken straight out of the pockets of British pensioners. Our plans for defence, reversed, a mass release of prisoners, and no plan for our borders.

“And what did Keir Starmer say just last week? He wants the state to have more control over your lives, a nanny state, closing pubs early, banning smoking outdoors and even trying to control the price of Oasis tickets.”

The Tory contender told the party conference: “Even in the depths of the Cold War he made Americans want to vote for a conservative, not reluctantly, but with enthusiasm. And then what did he do? He cut taxes, he cut regulation, he boosted military spending and he won a landslide.

“So let’s be more like Reagan, let’s be enthusiasm, relatable, positive, optimistic. Let’s be more normal. Let’s sell the benefits of conservatism with a smile.”

Cleverly is doing the opposite to Tugendhat he started with a muted response but is getting a stronger response as he goes along.

The former home secretary’s political hero was Ronald Reagan and it is the former president’s conservatism with a smile he wants.

But most powerful was the tale of his time trying to stay in business before entering politics.

“When I walk about optimism, I talk about doing something about it.”

James Cleverly has thanked the NHS for treating his wife Susie’s recent cancer diagnosis, saying: “it rocked our lives - I could hardly speak, our boys were distraught”.

He added: “But because of the amazing professionals, the doctors, the nurses of the NHS, her life was saved. So to all those in the NHS, I say thank you. And it’s because of them she sits with us in this auditorium today. And her courage, determination, resolve and optimism, her belief in the future, our belief in the future, is why we are here today.

“And I suspect ladies and gentlemen it is also why you are here. Because tomorrow can be better, and together we can make it better.”

Audience is not really warming to James Cleverly going through the pain of the recent defeat, David Maddox reports from the conference.

There is no applause for him saying sorry on behalf of the parliamentary party.

There was silence when he asked why the Conservative Party exists

It is a serious speech though, drawing on his background and life story and his wife’s recent cancer.

Cleverly wants to get back to winning. The question though will be if the party wants to follow him. It does not feel he has persuaded them yet.

James Cleverly has opened up about growing up in the UK as a mixed race kid.

He told the conference: “My mum came here from Sierra Leone in the 1960s and my father grew up on a council estate in Downham in south east London. He qualified as a surveyor and started a small business.

“She studied nursing and became a midwife in the NHS and I’m gutted that she didn’t live to see me elected and become an MP, or represent our country as foreign secretary when I visited Sierra Leone.

“Some people love to talk our country down. But this country has given so much to so many people, including my family.”

James Cleverly has issued an apology to members of the Tory party following the party’s brutal election defeat in July.

He urged the party to avoid complacency, warning against “wallowing in self-pity” after Labour’s landslide victory.

Mr Cleverly said: “There is something we need to say: sorry. Sorry on behalf of the Conservative parliamentary party who let you down. And we have to be better, much better. And under my leadership, we will be.”

“The British people are never wrong”, he told members, saying voters told the party “go and sort ourselves out”.

“Let’s not make them tell us again”, Mr Cleverly added.

“If we wallow in self-pity and blame other parties, if we look backwards instead of forwards, if we focus on what we are against rather than what we are for, if we’re complacent and just wait for the political pendulum to swing back to us, we might as well go home now.”

The applause for Tugendhat has been gradually getting more muted and polite as he went through his speech, David Maddox writes from the conference.

So there were chuckles when near the end he said” I know you’ve had enough and so have I.”

Fortunately, he wound up quickly afterwards with a pleasingly loud applause and cheer.

Tory leadership hopeful has told party members that he is a leader not a manager.

Tom Tugendhat said: “I get it, you’ve had enough. And so have I. But in this leadership election you have a choice. And it’s a choice about change.

“My opponents claim that they’ve got more management experience around the Cabinet table. Sure, that’s true. But I’m not here to manage, I’m here to lead.

“The only way to build trust back is to show real change. And that’s the new conservative revolution that I promise. That’s the change only I can deliver. That’s the change only I will bring.”

Ending his speech, he said: “Our mission is the prosperity and happiness of the British people - and we start today.”

Tom Tugendhat has used his final speech to attack Labour and socialism as a whole.

In his final speech, he said: “We are building on the strong foundations of the past and I’m standing because I believe in Britain.

“I have fought for Britain and I have had enough of those who want to manage decline. That’s what socialism delivers.

“It’s not who I am, it’s not who you are and nothing is more fatal to a mission than losing faith in the future. Nothing is more fatal to success than setting our ambition so low that we don’t even try. And nothing is more fatal to a nation than giving up on our belief in it.

“That’s why we must win. Not in 10 years, not in 15, but in five. We can’t afford Labour, the country can’t afford socialism, we can’t afford to wait. And I will not wait. It’s time to seize the moment and turn this around.”