Kemi Badenoch is aiming to rejuvenate her bid for Tory leadership by presenting herself as the candidate who can deliver the hard truths that the Conservative Party needs to hear. She has published a substantial 22,000-word essay that outlines her perspective on the challenges facing conservatism today. Badenoch unveiled her extensive treatise during her first major appearance at the party conference in Birmingham, where she emphasized that the public is unclear about the party's core values and principles. By positioning herself as an intellectual force within the party, she hopes to distinguish herself as the candidate who can articulate a clear vision for the future of the Conservatives.

Tom Tugendhat, a former security minister and contender for the Conservative Party leadership, has criticized his rival Robert Jenrick over remarks suggesting that UK special forces prefer to "kill rather than capture" terrorism suspects. Tugendhat described Jenrick's comments as indicative of a "fundamental misunderstanding" of the law of war. Jenrick, the former immigration minister, defended his statement, claiming it reflected concerns similar to those expressed by former defense secretary Ben Wallace. He argued that there are fears European laws could potentially release any suspects who are detained. Tugendhat's response highlights the ongoing debate within the party regarding the appropriate approach to counter-terrorism operations.