Rishi Sunak has said the Conservatives should “learn the lessons” of their general election defeat and “reflect” on their time in government as their conference gets under way. Mr Sunak described this year as a “difficult one” for the party as “too many good Conservatives have lost their seats”, in a piece for The House magazine.

This year has been a difficult one for the Conservative Party. We have had disappointing election results both nationally and locally. Too many

Rishi Sunak arrives in Birmingham ahead of Conservative Party conference - Leadership candidates Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat will all have an opportunity to address the conference.

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arrive at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, his last as leader.