Robert Jenrick (Conservative) urged his party to "take our country back" during a rallying speech at the Conservative conference in Manchester. The shadow justice secretary told delegates that Britain was "too precious to lose" and declared: "We may be a little bit down, but our country is not out."
Moving beyond his justice portfolio, Jenrick praised distinctly British characteristics including the nation's food and drink, "love of pubs" and "love of animals". He highlighted sporting heroes such as the Red Roses and Chris Woakes, describing the royal family as "so admired they make the most powerful man in the world go weak at the knees" and celebrating "a military that has defeated every force on the planet".
The Conservative leadership contender concluded with a rousing call to action: "Let's pick ourselves up. Let's dust ourselves down. Let's draw on Britain's greatness to make it greater still, let's fight for a better future. Let's build this new order. Let's take our country back."
Sharp attacks on Labour figures
Jenrick launched pointed criticisms at Sir Keir Starmer (Labour), describing the Prime Minister as combining "the management style of David Brent with the administrative grip of Blackadder's Baldrick". He also targeted Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer for representing terrorism case defendants, comparing him to "one of those infamous mafia lawyers of yesteryear" who "always chose a particular type of client".
Brandishing a judge's wig during his speech, Jenrick pledged to restore ministerial control over judicial appointments. He claimed the current system had permitted "political activists" onto the bench and alleged he had "uncovered dozens of judges with links to open borders charities, who take to social media to broadcast their open borders views, who spent their whole careers fighting to keep illegal migrants in this country".
The shadow justice secretary argued these judges "dishonour generations of independent jurists who came before them, and they undermine people's trust in the law itself". He declared: "Judges who blur the line between adjudication and activism can have no place in our justice system."
Strong pushback from government
Justice Secretary David Lammy (Labour) accused Jenrick of attacking "British values" by threatening to "trash the institutions and traditions that hold our country together". Lammy emphasised: "The independence of judges from politicians is not optional. It is the cornerstone of British democracy."
The Justice Secretary warned: "When politicians start deciding which judges can stay or go, that is democratic backsliding and Robert Jenrick knows it." Labour sources highlighted Lord Hermer's work representing Grenfell families and his role on a task force ensuring accountability for Russian crimes in Ukraine.
Former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption cautioned that Jenrick's proposals risked US-style politicisation of the judiciary. He told the BBC: "The only possible reason for going back to the old system would be to appoint judges who were less independent or more political than the ones appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission."
Leadership support despite polls
Despite a YouGov poll showing half of Conservative members did not want Kemi Badenoch to lead into the next election, Jenrick urged party "survivors" to "get behind Kemi". He told a Telegraph podcast: "Give her the support that she deserves so that she can do the difficult job of rebuilding this party."
Badenoch insisted her party was having "a very good conference" and dismissed concerns about energy and attendance levels. She brushed off Reform UK's announcement of 20 Conservative councillor defections, arguing the party was "shedding a lot of baggage" and stating: "It's going to be a long journey back from a historic defeat and on very long, difficult journeys you will lose some people on the way."
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp also dismissed the Reform defections, telling PA Media: "Nigel Farage was boasting about MP defections during our conference, which has not happened. So I don't think we can worry too much about what Reform may be saying."
Policy commitments announced
Philp revealed the Conservatives would hire 10,000 additional police officers at a cost of £800 million if they won the next election. Shadow education secretary Laura Trott announced that a future Conservative government would require automatic expulsion for children who brought knives to school, assaulted teachers or committed sexual assault.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
