Rishi Sunak to attend Tory conference briefly in Birmingham

Rishi Sunak, the former Prime Minister, will attend the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham for only a few hours, despite still holding the leadership position. His resignation on July 5 followed a significant defeat in the General Election, leading to a competitive race among four MPs vying to replace him. The conference is scheduled from September 29 to October 2, where these candidates will present their cases to party members. Sunak will not deliver a keynote speech, allowing the contenders to take the spotlight. The race for leadership has seen former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick emerge as the frontrunner, backed by 28 MPs, followed by Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly. The competition is intense, with one candidate expected to be eliminated before the conference. Jenrick has positioned himself as the 'change candidate,' despite his previous government roles under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Sunak. He has also expressed intentions to revive the controversial Rwanda immigration scheme if he becomes Prime Minister. The conference will culminate in a final day where the remaining candidates will each have 15 minutes to make their case to the party members. This format contrasts sharply with last year's conference, where Sunak delivered a significant address outlining key policy changes. The current leadership contest reflects the party's struggle to recover from its recent electoral losses and the need for a fresh direction. As the party navigates this transition, the outcome of the leadership race will be crucial for its future strategy and public perception. The new leader will need to address the challenges faced by the party and regain the trust of the electorate ahead of the next election cycle.