Boris Johnson to use conference speech to show his PM credentials
Boris Johnson's speech could signal his intention to run as leader - or at least pave the path for his bid, his fans hope.
Tuesday 2 October 2018 13:27, UK
Boris Johnson will storm into the Tory conference to a rapturous welcome from activists and launch a blistering attack on Theresa May and her policy on Brexit.
He will spend just a few hours in Birmingham, but will deliver a barnstorming speech his supporters hope will pave the way for a Tory leadership bid within weeks.
The former foreign secretary will call on the prime minister and the Cabinet to "chuck Chequers", after controversially describing the plan as "deranged" at the weekend.
And in his lunchtime speech at a ConservativeHome fringe event, he will say the Tories need to "believe in Conservative values" if they are to beat Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Setting himself directly at odds with the prime minister and Chancellor Philip Hammond, Mr Johnson will put tax cuts at the top of his personal policy agenda.
Mr Johnson will receive a rock star welcome from adoring pro-Brexit Tory activists, in a provocative stunt that will dismay and incense the PM's supporters.
On the opening day of the conference, the former trade minister Digby Jones denounced Mr Johnson as "irrelevant and offensive" for attacking business.
But Mr Johnson will reinforce the view of many Tory MPs that he is poised to strike against Mrs May by using his speech to spell out his leadership credentials as well as attacking the Chequers plan.
He will urge the Conservative Party not to "ape Corbyn", but instead take "basic Conservative ideas and fit them to the problems of today".
Attacking Mr Corbyn's Labour conference speech, Mr Johnson will say: "It was astonishing that he had absolutely nothing to say about the wealth-creating sector of the economy.
"The people who get up at the crack of dawn to prepare their shops: the grafters and the grifters, the innovators, the entrepreneurs. He didn't mention any successes.
"We Conservatives know that it is only a strong private sector economy that can pay for superb public services and that is the central symmetry of our one nation Toryism."
Setting out his leadership manifesto in a wide-ranging speech, Mr Johnson will urge the party to focus on law and order, tax cuts and building more homes in its bid to beat Labour at the next election.
He will say: "We must on no account follow Corbyn and start to treat capitalism as a kind of boo word.
"We can't lose our faith in competition and choice and markets. But we should re-state the truth that there is simply no other system that is so miraculously successful in satisfying human wants and needs.
"We should set our taxes to stimulate investment and growth. We should be constantly aiming not to increase but to cut taxes.
"It is the Conservative approach that gets things done. So let's follow our Conservative instincts."
Ahead of Mr Johnson's whirlwind visit to Birmingham, he was attacked by the Chancellor, who told Sky News: "Of course Boris is a big personality. Nobody's denying that.
"What I'm saying is that the business of government is a process of attention to detail, follow-through and lots of hard work.
"It isn't just about making flamboyant statements and big announcements - it's about getting things done."