Attendance at Conservative party conference surges by 20% as leadership race heats up

Attendance is up by 20% at the Conservative party conference as members turn up to watch leadership contenders battle it out for the top job.

An extra 1,500 Tories have signed up for the so-called beauty parade to replace Rishi Sunak.

Leadership frontrunner Robert Jenrick was given a boost when former MP Tom Hunt, who backed Kemi Badenoch two years ago, endorsed him instead.

Mr Hunt said: "There is one candidate who stands out in a positive way when it comes to the credibility question: Robert Jenrick."

Ahead of the conference in Birmingham on Sunday, Mr Jenrick insisted he was the candidate to bring the change the country needs.

He said: "We have just suffered our worst electoral defeat in centuries and we now stand at a crossroads. We can double down or a failed status quo, or we can listen to the country, change and begin to rebuild trust.

"I am standing to change our party by empowering members and change our offer to the public by providing the serious solutions to the big challenges facing the country."

Rival James Cleverly said the party must unite and warned "we don't have a second to waste".

He added: "I want us to get behind our Conservative values, re-earn the right to be listened to and win back voters that we lost to Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform - as well as those that chose to stay at home.

"Within just weeks, the Labour Party have shown themselves to be completely out of touch with the British public.

"I can't wait to get out there and show people why they should choose me as Leader."

Tom Tugendhat promised he would lead with conviction and deliver a conservative vision.

"Labour has brought nothing but chaos and cronyism to government, serving only their union paymasters instead of the British people. We must give Britain the leadership it deserves.

"Conference gives us a chance to reset and engage with those who truly drive our Party forward - the hardworking members and activists. I look forward to meeting many of them at Conference and making it clear that if we make the right choice, we can defeat Keir Starmer and return to power in just five years time."

A source in Kemi Badenoch's campaign said she had been received an "amazing reception" while touring the country for the past few months.

The insider added: "This conference is a chance to show MPs she is the members' choice - the one with the star quality to cut through as a leader of the Opposition and take the fight to Labour.

"She has the most shadow cabinet members backing her and all her former junior ministers at Business and Trade, showing she brings people together to form a top team. This conference will show that she is best placed to unite, renew and embolden the party to take on this floundering government."