Could 'Midlands man' Jenrick become Tory leader?

Robert Jenrick was born and educated in Wolverhampton

When Robert Jenrick strode onto the stage at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, he wasted no time in setting out his Midlands credentials.

As the audience at the International Convention Centre applauded, the Newark MP's opening remarks stamped his connection to the region.

"It's great to be home. I'm a Midlands man. I grew up just down the road in Wolverhampton," he declared.

Looking on from seats close to the stage were his wife and parents. His speech included sentimental memories of growing up the Black Country, the son of entrepreneurs who started their fireplace business "at the kitchen table".

The Wolverhampton Grammar School alumnus was elected MP for his Nottinghamshire seat in 2014, before gaining a series of ministerial posts including two years in cabinet as Communities Secretary.

The next step in his political career, he hopes, is to become his party's leader.

From the stage, he implored delegates: "I want to lead that change, so come with me in this new Conservative Party. Together, let's take a stand for the country we love."

The first two leadership ballots of Conservative MPs made him the front runner in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak.

However, he faces competition from three other MPs in the race for the top job.

Robert Jenrick delivered his candidate speech at the conference in Birmingham

Like many of his Conservative parliamentary colleagues, the 42-year-old is new to life in opposition, following his party's bruising defeat in July's general election.

Jenrick was the only Conservative MP in Nottinghamshire to retain his seat.

It's an achievement he credits to the fact he stood down as immigration minister in December 2023.

He criticised the former government's Rwanda Bill for needing "stronger protections" to prevent legal challenges from asylum seekers seeking to avoid deportation.

A tough stance on immigration has featured as a key pledge in his campaign.

The leadership hopeful told conference delegates: "Frankly, there is no future for this party unless we take a stand. The way to do that is to swiftly detain and deport everyone who comes into our country illegally."

He advocates the UK leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which he claims makes it "impossible to secure our borders”.

The four candidates addressed MPs and party members in Birmingham on Wednesday

His rivals for the party leadership are former Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, former Foreign and Home Secretary James Cleverly and the shadow security minister Tom Tugenhat.

Jenrick supporters in the region said his knowledge of the Midlands was one of the reasons they back him.

The Conservative MP for Bromsgrove, Bradley Thomas, told the BBC: "Rob is someone who understands not just the heritage of the West Midlands, but also the economic and social identity of the place. The fact that our economy has got to pivot, that we've got to upskill for the next generation, that we've got to tackle issues including migration. "

Conservative councillor Simon Bennett, who is the leader of the opposition on City of Wolverhampton Council also hopes to vote for Jenrick.

"He will bring prosperity back to places like Wolverhampton. He knows what those former 'red wall' seats are all about. Robert will make sure that areas which have been left behind receive more investment."

In contrast, the Conservative MP for Hereford, Jesse Norman, took to social media to share how unimpressed by the conference performance.

He posted on X "That speech of Robert Jenrick's was lazy, mendacious, simplistic tripe."

On Wednesday and Thursday, MPs will vote to narrow the field of candidates from four to two.

Party members will then make the final decision to select the winning candidate.

The ballot closes at 17:00 GMT on 31 October.

The self-declared "Midlands man" will hope it's a Halloween to celebrate.