James Cleverly warns the Conservative Party against internal chaos and urges unity as the leadership race heats up and members consider a merger with Reform UK. Here’s the full story.
Licking Their Wounds
As the Conservatives continue to lick their wounds following the worst electoral result in the party’s history, the introspection and infighting have begun in earnest ahead of the leadership race to replace Rishi Sunak.
Warnings of Infighting
Ahead of the leadership race of the few remaining high-profile Tories, James Cleverly, the newly appointed shadow Home Secretary, has warned his fellow Conservatives sternly, cautioning against the perils of “bitter infighting.”
Sensible Post-Mortem
Cleverly urged the party to pursue a “sensible post-mortem on what went wrong and finding the right path forwards.”
Remember Two Things
Writing in the times, Cleverly stated, “We must remember two vital things. Firstly, it cannot descend into bitter infighting and finger-pointing. That is exactly how we ended up here. Secondly, we cannot delude ourselves that there are always simple answers, either to our problems as a party or the challenges we face as a country.”
Get Our Act Together
He added, “We must get our act together. We need to unite in order to deliver. It will take humility and hard work, to recover our reputation for competence and integrity, to rebuild trust in our party, and unite behind a broad platform that will give people a reason to vote Conservative again.”
Perilous Time
Cleverly’s plea has come at a perilous time for the Conservative Party, as tensions within the party following their near electoral wipeout threaten to reach a fever pitch. During Rishi Sunak’s first shadow cabinet meeting, high-profile members and possible leadership contenders, including Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman, voiced their increasingly acerbic concerns.
Disastrous Decision
Badenoch reportedly called Sunak’s decision to leave D-Day commemorations early “disastrous,” suggesting it cost several members their seats. She also called out her rival Suella Braverman for her latest controversial speech at the National Conservatism conference in Washington DC, likening it to Braverman having a “very public” nervous breakdown.
Existential Threat
Conversely, Braverman described Reform UK as an “existential threat” to the Tories. However, she has previously called for the Conservatives to ally with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
Emerging Candidates
Several potential candidates have emerged as the Conservative Party prepares for a leadership contest. Cleverly is considered a possible contender, though he would face competition from right-wing figures like Braverman and Badenoch.
Grassroots Support
According to a YouGov poll, the latter enjoys substantial grassroots support, with 31% backing her. Other potential candidates include Dame Priti Patel, Robert Jenrick, and Victoria Atkins, though they currently have minimal support among party members.
1922 Committee Role
The 1922 Committee played a crucial role in setting the rules and timeline for the leadership election and has not been immune to controversy. Recently elected chairman Bob Blackman faces challenges, including accusations of incompetence from MP Mark Francois, who claimed the vote for the committee chair was “bent.”
Prolonged Leadership Contest
Blackman has been pushing for a more prolonged leadership contest, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, “I think we’ve got to take time to reflect on the fact that we were beaten in the election, and we need to decide, as you say, which direction we choose.”
Chaotic Start
However, Mark Francois disagreed, telling GB News, “You can’t start our parliamentary year in opposition with an election that was chaotic.”
Merger With Reform UK?
Adding to the party’s internal challenges is the issue of a potential merger with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. A recent YouGov poll revealed that almost half of Conservative grassroots members support merging with Reform UK.
Strong Sentiment
This sentiment is particularly strong among older members and those from lower-income backgrounds, though Braverman is the only leadership contender who has publicly suggested seeking accommodation with Reform UK.
Vision for Unity
Cleverly’s vision for the future of the Conservative Party hinges on unity and broadening the party’s appeal. He wrote, “There is strength in unity, and the Conservative party has always been at its best when it embraces being a broad church. We lost voters to the left and the right, and we won’t win them all back if we narrow our offer.”
Bitterly Contested
The road ahead for the Conservative Party is fraught with challenges, with the leadership race likely to be bitterly contested. As the many factions within the party are already starting to argue in public and private, Cleverly’s call for unity is a timely reminder of the work needed to restore the troubled party’s fortunes.
Heed His Advice?
However, whether the party can heed his advice and avoid descending into chaos remains to be seen.
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