Senior Conservative Party member: Party leadership candidates ‘too afraid of party membership’ to get to the root of election defeat
Former justice minister David Gauke has warned that the ongoing Conservative leadership contest is failing to learn the lessons of why the party suffered such a heavy defeat in the general election, and the crop of candidates is “too scared of party militancy.”
In an interview on Instances Radio, he told listeners: “We want it to be a respectful leadership campaign. We don’t want a lot of name-calling. But the Conservative Party suffered a massive defeat in July, its worst performance in its history, and there is a lot of work to be done in the background.
“And ultimately, whoever wins this contest is not going to be able to lead on the basis of unity. They are actually going to have to have a platform and demonstrate leadership, and hope to persuade people to support them. Calls for unity are not going to be enough if they don’t make gains in the opinion polls, if they don’t give the impression of being an alternative government.”
Kemi Badenoch, James cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Come on Patel, Mel’s Pass y Tom Tugendhat They are running to be leaders.
Gauke was one of several MPs suspended from the party by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2019 over their votes on Brexit-related issues. Gauke told Instances Radio that he had now rejoined the party to be able to have his say in the leadership contest.
He suggested that one element of the contest could be people seeking to emulate “a very successful model implemented in 2020 by Keir Starmer”.
Gauke says:[Starmer] He ran as a continuing candidate. Then, about a year after winning, he changed his strategy, demonstrated some leadership, was a leader of “change” who tried to modernize his party, and that was successful.
“At this moment, you feel that everyone [Conservative leadership] “The candidates are too hesitant to do it, they are too afraid of the party members. Maybe they think about going over to the other side and then who knows what they can do. But right now, normally, they feel like they just want to get there first and then we will do the modernization.”
“The difficulty with that strategy is that you don’t have a mandate, and people will cry treason, and you may not have the authority you need to do what I think has to be a very big and very ambitious modernization of the party.”
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Key events
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Many MPs are on holiday or working in their constituencies during the summer break, but a handful of them remain very vocal on social media, including Reform of the United Kingdom deputy leader Richard TiceThis morning he suggested that the number of people crossing the Channel should constitute a “national emergency”.
Tice has also reiterated his demand for arrests to be made over the violence involving police at Manchester Airport several weeks ago. Two police officers are under criminal investigation for assault, and police officers and members of the public were injured in an incident that was widely seen on social media.
It’s good to know that there will be early charges for this brutal crime, within the first 24 hours.
When will those guys who brutally attacked police officers at Manchester Airport be charged? It’s been three weeks…
— Richard Tice, diputado 🇬🇧 (@TiceRichard) August 13, 2024
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UK unemployment falls as wage growth hits two-year low
The UK labour market contradicted predictions of further weakness in June after official figures showed unemployment fell but wage growth slowed to its lowest level in two years.
Unemployment unexpectedly fell to 4.2% from 4.4% in the three months to June compared with the previous three months, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
However, wage growth excluding bonuses was 5.4% year-on-year in the three months to June, down from 5.7% in the previous three months and representing the smallest increase since the period to July 2022, when it was 5.2%.
Adjusted for inflation, wages rose by 1.6%, meaning many workers will experience a continued improvement in their standard of living.
The chancellor, Rachel ReevesHe said: “Today’s figures show there is more to do to support people into employment because if you can work, you should work.
“This will be part of my Budget later this year, where I will take tough decisions on spending, welfare and tax to fix the foundations of our economy so we can rebuild Britain and improve the situation in every part of our country.”
Reeves will present his first budget on October 30.
Read more here: UK unemployment falls as wage growth hits two-year low
You can also follow live coverage of the reaction to those figures on our live business blog with my colleague Graeme Wearden:
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As if to underline David Gauke’s point that the Tory leadership candidates have yet to show their teeth in the contest, Kemi Badenoch just happily retweeted Mel’s Pass Talking about today’s unemployment figures.
In his post, Stride said:
This morning’s figures show that unemployment fell and employment rose in the second quarter of this year. More proof that Labour’s claims of the “worst economic legacy since the Second World War” are a complete fantasy. They inherit an unemployment rate that is half of what they left us in 2010.
This morning’s figures show that unemployment fell and employment rose in the second quarter of this year. More evidence that @UK Labour PartyObama’s claims of the “worst economic legacy since World War II” are a complete fantasy. They inherit an unemployment rate that is half of what we were left with in 2010.
— Mel Stride (@MelJStride) August 13, 2024
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Senior Conservative Party member: Party leadership candidates ‘too afraid of party membership’ to get to the root of election defeat
Former justice minister David Gauke has warned that the ongoing Conservative leadership contest is failing to learn the lessons of why the party suffered such a heavy defeat in the general election, and the crop of candidates is “too scared of party militancy.”
In an interview on Instances Radio, he told listeners: “We want it to be a respectful leadership campaign. We don’t want a lot of name-calling. But the Conservative Party suffered a massive defeat in July, its worst performance in its history, and there is a lot of work to be done in the background.
“And ultimately, whoever wins this contest is not going to be able to lead on the basis of unity. They are actually going to have to have a platform and demonstrate leadership, and hope to persuade people to support them. Calls for unity are not going to be enough if they don’t make gains in the opinion polls, if they don’t give the impression of being an alternative government.”
Kemi Badenoch, James cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Come on Patel, Mel’s Pass y Tom Tugendhat They are running to be leaders.
Gauke was one of several MPs suspended from the party by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2019 over their votes on Brexit-related issues. Gauke told Instances Radio that he had now rejoined the party to be able to have his say in the leadership contest.
He suggested that one element of the contest could be people seeking to emulate “a very successful model implemented in 2020 by Keir Starmer”.
Gauke says:[Starmer] He ran as a continuing candidate. Then, about a year after winning, he changed his strategy, demonstrated some leadership, was a leader of “change” who tried to modernize his party, and that was successful.
“At this moment, you feel that everyone [Conservative leadership] “The candidates are too hesitant to do it, they are too afraid of the party members. Maybe they think about going over to the other side and then who knows what they can do. But right now, normally, they feel like they just want to get there first and then we will do the modernization.”
“The difficulty with that strategy is that you don’t have a mandate, and people will cry treason, and you may not have the authority you need to do what I think has to be a very big and very ambitious modernization of the party.”
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Welcome and opening summary…
Welcome to our continuing coverage of UK politics on Tuesday. Here are the headlines…
Today is Martin Belam. It’s a lull in the summer break so this may be a slow news day, although we’re expecting a speech from Tom Tugendhat this afternoon. Email me if you spot any typos or omissions: martin.belam@theguardian.com.
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