Tugendhat promises return of honest politics as he launches Tory leadership bid

Tom Tugendhat has promised a return of honesty to politics as he formally launches his campaign to be the next Conservative Party leader.

The Tory former minister will launch his bid to be Rishi Sunak’s successor in a speech in central London on Tuesday, in which he will insist only under his stewardship can the Conservatives win back the trust of the public after “recent games” at Westminster which have plagued the party.

Mr Tugendhat, the shadow security minister, will touch on his ambition to increase defence spending to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) and will also set out his vision for strengthening the Union.

The senior Tory is expected to emphasise the importance of public service in his leadership bid, telling the audience: “My pledge, as leader, is to return to the honest state, the responsible state.

“I will set out the agenda for government to win back the trust and confidence in the future because I know that this country has the greatest building blocks for future success.”

He will add: “That’s why I am standing not just to lead the Conservative Party. I am standing to be the prime minister of the United Kingdom.”

The Tory MP for Tonbridge will also seek to reset the Conservatives’ image with the British public, saying: “Politics matters to people’s lives.

“That’s why I was so angry at the recent games… We need a government that will serve, lead, and act.

“That’s why I am standing before you today. Because this country can change. We must change.”

Mr Tugendhat is expected to touch on the importance of standing up to hostile foreign states such as Russia and Iran, as he restates his commitment to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP.

“We face a world becoming more dangerous by the day, and now need to invest in our own security and be clear that we cannot bet our future on the choices of others,” he will say.

Mr Tugendhat is also likely to set out a vision for economic change, focusing on investing in skills and infrastructure across the UK, among other measures.

He will point to the record of the Tory mayor of Tees Valley, Lord Ben Houchen, as an inspiration for other efforts.

The security minister has made several televised speeches over the course of the summer which have allowed him to draw attention to his leadership bid, and has also canvassed Tory members during visits to regions across the UK.

Mr Tugendhat is joined in the race for the party leadership by former ministers Robert Jenrick, Mel Stride, James Cleverly, Dame Priti Patel, and Kemi Badenoch, who is widely tipped as the bookies’ favourite in the race.

Candidates have been urged not to attack one another during the contest, with the aim of avoiding the division on display in the 2022 leadership contest which resulted in the head-to-head between Liz Truss and Mr Sunak.

Mr Jenrick has however faced some criticism from his rivals over his support for leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.

He has said that attempting to reform the international agreement would take decades and be “doomed to failure”.