{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/9475d117-fcd4-4915-a6f3-923941e7aa0d/66fc1ed7687515ec94eb409d?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Tory conference: the contest heats up","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/61ba05fc1a8cbed4343cf0e6/1727798730161-9e719b15-3bfb-41e5-b4da-627dadb17f1d.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>It’s the penultimate day of the Conservatives’ conference in Birmingham, where the final four leadership hopefuls are vying for attentions of the party faithful.</p><p>Yesterday, we looked at the <a href=\"https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/freebies-conservative-leadership-contest-robert-jenrick-kemi-badenoch-b1185043.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">free ‘merch’ being offered</a> on candidates’ stalls - those friendship bracelets and fake tan - but will these multiple charm offensives translate into votes?</p><p><a href=\"https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/tory-conference-leadership-race-kemi-badenoch-robert-jenrick-james-cleverly-tom-tugendhat-b1184953.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat</a> have been fielding questions from voting party members at conference events ahead of the <a href=\"https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/robert-jenrick-kemi-badenoch-james-cleverly-tom-tugendhat-tory-leader-conference-b1185219.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">leadership race</a>.</p><p>So, is anyone edging ahead - and who’s got the best offer for London?</p><p>We’re joined from Birmingham by The Standard’s political editor Nicholas Cecil, who reports developments from the leadership race and recent revelations in the memoir of Tory grandee Lord Brady.</p><p>In part two, The Standard’s transport editor Ross Lydall examines proposals for<a href=\"https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/cycleway-bank-junction-city-of-london-square-mile-financial-district-b1185006.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> a £4.5 million cycleway running through the City of London</a>, including Bank junction, to provide an alternative to the CS3 cycle superhighway.</p>","author_name":"The Evening Standard"}