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‘Cheap trick’: Raab, Hancock and Javid’s ‘clean campaign’ scorned by rival Tories ‘Cheap trick’: Raab, Hancock and Javid’s ‘clean campaign’ scorned by rival Tories
(3 days later)
Rival Conservative leadership camps have accused three candidates of a “cheap trick” after Dominic Raab, Matt Hancock and Sajid Javid signed a “clean campaign” pledge which others said they had not been shown in advance.Rival Conservative leadership camps have accused three candidates of a “cheap trick” after Dominic Raab, Matt Hancock and Sajid Javid signed a “clean campaign” pledge which others said they had not been shown in advance.
The pledge, which promises not to launch personal attacks on other candidates, was launched by Raab with Hancock and Javid’s signatures. Rory Stewart, another of the 11 leadership contenders, tweeted that he would sign the pledge and Kit Malthouse, the housing minister, has also signed.The pledge, which promises not to launch personal attacks on other candidates, was launched by Raab with Hancock and Javid’s signatures. Rory Stewart, another of the 11 leadership contenders, tweeted that he would sign the pledge and Kit Malthouse, the housing minister, has also signed.
MP Nadine Dorries, an enthusiastic supporter of Boris Johnson’s campaign, said Johnson had not been approached to sign before the pledge was launched.MP Nadine Dorries, an enthusiastic supporter of Boris Johnson’s campaign, said Johnson had not been approached to sign before the pledge was launched.
“This is not a declaration of fairness, it is a dirty tricks campaign, apparently led by Dominic Raab. I and many others would like to see better than this in No 10,” she tweeted.“This is not a declaration of fairness, it is a dirty tricks campaign, apparently led by Dominic Raab. I and many others would like to see better than this in No 10,” she tweeted.
At least four other leadership campaigns privately confirmed to the Guardian they had not been approached before the pledge was launched. “We still haven’t been approached,” one senior advisor said. Another said they “did not want to engage in these baiting tactics at all”.At least four other leadership campaigns privately confirmed to the Guardian they had not been approached before the pledge was launched. “We still haven’t been approached,” one senior advisor said. Another said they “did not want to engage in these baiting tactics at all”.
The environment secretary is to pitch himself as a “unity candidate” capable of attracting leavers and remainers, as he formally declared his candidacy saying: “I believe that I’m ready to unite the Conservative and Unionist party, ready to deliver Brexit and ready to lead this great country.” But robust Brexiters in particular dislike the fact that he stayed loyal even in the final days of the crumbling May regime. The environment secretary’s campaign plan was knocked off course by revelations about drug-taking.
He has sought to regain his place as the leading ‘Stop Boris’ with a series of policy pledges, from a new social insurance to pay for social care, to changing human rights law to prevent service personnel being pursued over historical crimes. He has better Brexiter credentials than Hunt, is liked by the moderate wing of the party, and is a better orator than almost any other candidate.
He has played up his senior role in the Vote Leave campaign, saying he had ‘led from the front’ because he believed it was ‘the right thing to do, at a critical moment in our history’.
On Brexit he has publicly discussed the idea of extending the Brexit deadline slightly beyond 31 October, if needed to finalise a deal. Has not completely ruled out a no-deal Brexit.
He received 37 votes in the first round, coming third.He received 37 votes in the first round, coming third.
Fears that the foreign secretary would be another overly woolly compromise choice were hardly assuaged when after a set-piece speech he seemed unable to outline why his brand of Conservatism might appeal to voters. Hunt has been backed by Liam Fox.  The foreign secretary has made the case that he is the most serious and experienced would-be leader, in an apparent rebuke to his main rival, Boris Johnson. 
On Brexit he believes a new deal is possible by 31 October, and would send a new, cross-party negotiating team to Brussels. Would countenance leaving EU without a deal, but has warned that could lead to a confidence vote and potentially an election.
Hunt’s problem is he is seen as the continuity candidate, the safe pair of hands, when colleagues are starting to see the attraction of a new style. 
He received 43 votes in the first round, placing him second.He received 43 votes in the first round, placing him second.
The home secretary still has the same weaknesses: he is an uninspiring speaker and some worry he is too fond of headline-grabbing, illiberal political gestures. But he is almost as ubiquitous as Liz Truss, and clearly believes this is his time. Javid struggled to define himself in the first days of the campaign, not a fresh face, not a safe pair of hands, or a true Brexit believer. But his campaign picked up, with the endorsement of popular Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, a polished leadership video telling the moving story of his background, and a lively launch speech. It was still only enough to place him fifth, though.
On Brexit, Javid says he wants to leave with a deal, but has talked down the idea of another extension and would be prepared to opt for no deal.
He is expected to make a new push to define himself as the change candidate who can talk to Tory voters in new places – though he may also be tempted to drop out to tuck in behind one of the frontrunners. It is hard to see how he could make it into the final two from this position.
He received 23 votes in the first round.He received 23 votes in the first round.
The out-and-out favourite, so popular with the Tory grassroots that it would be hard for MPs to not make Johnson one of the final two. He has been relatively quiet recently, beyond his regular Telegraph column, but this is very deliberate. The former foreign secretary already has enough support to progress through to the members’ ballot. All Johnson needs to do is sit tight, keep his MPs sweet and try not to ruin it for himself. He has kept a low profile in the media and stayed in the tearooms and in his office, methodically talking round colleagues. His team know that one negative news cycle because of an off-guard comment could see his star plummet – and Johnson is more prone to those than most.
On Brexit he has promised the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, come what may, even without a deal if a new agreement cannot be reached in time.
Johnson won the first round with 114 votes.Johnson won the first round with 114 votes.
The former work and pensions secretary, who quit last year over May’s Brexit plans, has launched her own in-party campaign group/leadership vehicle called Blue Collar Conservatism, promising to make the party more amenable to voters in deprived communities – mainly through a promise to deliver a strong Brexit and policies such as diverting much of the foreign aid budget to schools and police. The former Brexit secretary has had a rocky start to his campaign after telling broadcasters he was not a feminist and missing out on a slew of endorsements from the Brexiter right of the party, which instead went to Boris Johnson
On Brexit Raab has said he would actively seek a no-deal departure, and has repeatedly refused to rule out proroguing parliament to make sure MPs could not block this. ‘We’ve been humiliated as a country in these talks with the EU,’ he said. ‘We’re divided at home, and demeaned abroad.’
His limited chance of success really now depends on whether Johnson stumbles and a more moderate candidate gains momentum, in which case Raab could be the beneficiary.
Raab got 27 votes in the first round.Raab got 27 votes in the first round.
Few things say “would-be leader in waiting” like a kitchen photoshoot with your spouse, and the former Brexit secretary duly obliged with this imageawash with tasteful pastel hues. He formally launched his bid in the Mail on Sunday. Among the more core constituency of Conservative MPs, Raab has been pushing hard, as has his semi-official “Ready for Raab” Twitter feed. Stewart said he was ‘over the moon’ to scrape into the next round of voting with 19 votes, one-sixth of Johnson’s tally, and insisted afterwards he could still make the final two. He still has a mountain to climb to get into the next round, where he will need to get another 14 endorsements – and avoid coming last – or he will be automatically eliminated.
The safe money would say it is likely that he will not make it through the next round, yet it is just about possible that his mounting popularity with the public could convince colleagues to take a gamble on him if they hope to find an outsider with a chance of beating Johnson.
On Brexit he is by far the softest of the candidates – he so vehemently rules out no deal that he has discussed holding an impromptu parliament elsewhere in Westminster if a new PM opted to prorogue the Commons.
Stewart got 19 votes in the first round.Stewart got 19 votes in the first round.
Steve Baker, another influential Brexiter who is mulling a run for the leadership himself, also attacked the tactic. “Did you ask the other declared candidates to sign before you published this?” he tweeted. “I hope so. That cheap trick was played on Andrea Leadsom last time. Hopefully the three of you are better than that.”Steve Baker, another influential Brexiter who is mulling a run for the leadership himself, also attacked the tactic. “Did you ask the other declared candidates to sign before you published this?” he tweeted. “I hope so. That cheap trick was played on Andrea Leadsom last time. Hopefully the three of you are better than that.”
Sajid Javid joins race to replace Theresa May as Tory leaderSajid Javid joins race to replace Theresa May as Tory leader
The five-point pledge includes commitments that candidates will not allow third parties to spend money on online advertising, something which appeared to be a veiled dig at Johnson.The five-point pledge includes commitments that candidates will not allow third parties to spend money on online advertising, something which appeared to be a veiled dig at Johnson.
Various online campaigns have sprung up around the former foreign secretary, including one putting pressure on Conservative MPs to back Johnson, run by Paul Staines, the founder of the Guido Fawkes blog. The Guardian has also revealed that employees of Sir Lynton Crosby were running influence campaigns for a hard Brexit.Various online campaigns have sprung up around the former foreign secretary, including one putting pressure on Conservative MPs to back Johnson, run by Paul Staines, the founder of the Guido Fawkes blog. The Guardian has also revealed that employees of Sir Lynton Crosby were running influence campaigns for a hard Brexit.
The pledge also calls on candidates to stick to spending limits, encourage supporters not to engage in social media abuse of other candidates, not to engage in personality attacks on others and not speak ill of fellow Tories.The pledge also calls on candidates to stick to spending limits, encourage supporters not to engage in social media abuse of other candidates, not to engage in personality attacks on others and not speak ill of fellow Tories.
The pledge was launched just hours before Hancock launched an expletive-laden criticism of Johnson in an interview with the Financial Times.The pledge was launched just hours before Hancock launched an expletive-laden criticism of Johnson in an interview with the Financial Times.
Referring to comments made by Johnson at a private drinks party last year, where he replied “fuck business” in response to criticism of his Brexit approach, Hancock said he would take a more business-minded approach. “To the people who say fuck business, I say fuck ‘fuck business’,” he told the paper.Referring to comments made by Johnson at a private drinks party last year, where he replied “fuck business” in response to criticism of his Brexit approach, Hancock said he would take a more business-minded approach. “To the people who say fuck business, I say fuck ‘fuck business’,” he told the paper.
At least five other candidates are known to be considering running for the leadership, including Baker, the defence secretary Penny Mordaunt, the former chief whip Mark Harper, the former international development secretary Priti Patel and the former chair of the 1922 committee Sir Graham Brady. Should they declare, it would bring the total number of candidates to 16.At least five other candidates are known to be considering running for the leadership, including Baker, the defence secretary Penny Mordaunt, the former chief whip Mark Harper, the former international development secretary Priti Patel and the former chair of the 1922 committee Sir Graham Brady. Should they declare, it would bring the total number of candidates to 16.
Mordaunt will host a “live consultation call” with Conservative grassroots on Tuesday next week with the solicitor general Robert Buckland and George Freeman, the former chair of the prime minister’s policy board.In an article published on Conservative Home on Wednesday, she will call for a fresh approach to a leadership campaign – but does not confirm that she will stand herself.Mordaunt will host a “live consultation call” with Conservative grassroots on Tuesday next week with the solicitor general Robert Buckland and George Freeman, the former chair of the prime minister’s policy board.In an article published on Conservative Home on Wednesday, she will call for a fresh approach to a leadership campaign – but does not confirm that she will stand herself.
“The public now has to endure a parade of leadership candidates speaking to Westminster, from Westminster, about Westminster. Policy has given way to presentation,” the piece will say. “The focus on the major challenges facing the world, and the inspiration for us all to tackle them, appears not to be driven by brave politicians but Blue Planet film-makers and schoolchildren. To be a political leader now, when we need to restore trust, confidence and hope, will take more than the usual tired routine.”“The public now has to endure a parade of leadership candidates speaking to Westminster, from Westminster, about Westminster. Policy has given way to presentation,” the piece will say. “The focus on the major challenges facing the world, and the inspiration for us all to tackle them, appears not to be driven by brave politicians but Blue Planet film-makers and schoolchildren. To be a political leader now, when we need to restore trust, confidence and hope, will take more than the usual tired routine.”
Mordaunt will say that leadership contestants must “articulate national missions” rather than factionalism. “Britain needs some humility from its leaders, not just from the candidates in this contest, but from us all.”Mordaunt will say that leadership contestants must “articulate national missions” rather than factionalism. “Britain needs some humility from its leaders, not just from the candidates in this contest, but from us all.”
Conservative leadershipConservative leadership
ConservativesConservatives
Dominic RaabDominic Raab
Matt HancockMatt Hancock
Sajid JavidSajid Javid
Nadine DorriesNadine Dorries
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