Robert Jenrick: Tories misplaced as a result of we didn't ship

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has stated the Conservatives suffered a “devastating” basic election defeat as a result of the social gathering didn’t ship on its guarantees to the general public.

He instructed the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme the failure to chop migration was “on the coronary heart” of the election outcome however he additionally blamed excessive taxes and “damaged” public companies.

Mr Jenrick, who’s on the correct of the social gathering and has been touted as a possible Tory management contender, didn’t rule out operating to interchange Rishi Sunak.

Nevertheless, he stated step one was getting “the correct analysis of what is gone mistaken” and speak of management bids was “self-indulgent” at this stage.

Additionally showing on the programme, shadow well being secretary Victoria Atkins, agreed “this weekend isn’t about management”.

Ms Atkins didn’t rule out operating herself however added: “We have to present the general public that we perceive they’ve despatched us some very, very loud messages, that we’re listening, that we’re reflecting after which we as a celebration have to get collectively and unite and work out what we would like for the longer term.”

Ms Atkins, who spent simply over six months as well being secretary in Mr Sunak’s authorities, is on the reasonable wing of the social gathering and has been tipped as a possible future chief.

Mr Jenrick, who resigned from Mr Sunak’s authorities final 12 months as a result of he believed his Rwanda laws didn’t go far sufficient, stated: “The rationale that we misplaced the belief of tens of millions of individuals throughout the nation isn’t as a result of we have been too left wing or proper wing, or had this slogan or that slogan.

“However essentially as a result of we didn’t ship on the guarantees we made to the British public.”

He cited low financial progress, excessive taxes, the standard of NHS companies and “above all” the failure to safe the nation’s borders and management migration, as examples of damaged guarantees.

Mr Jenrick pointed to the lack of votes to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK social gathering as proof that migration “was on the coronary heart” of the Tory defeat.

Reform, which had referred to as for a freeze on non-essential immigration, received 5 seats and greater than 4 million votes within the election.

The social gathering additionally got here second in 98 constituencies, in lots of circumstances pushing the Tories into third place.

Mr Jenrick stated that in two-thirds of seats misplaced by the Tories, together with these received by the Liberal Democrats, the margin of defeat was lower than the Reform vote.

The Conservatives now have solely 121 MPs – the bottom quantity within the social gathering’s historical past – after shedding 251 seats in a Labour landslide.

Mr Sunak has vowed to remain on as chief till preparations for choosing his successor are in place.

The timetable for this stays unclear and no Tories have confirmed they are going to run to interchange him but.

Celebration grandees are anticipated to satisfy subsequent week to determine the method by which the social gathering will select the following chief.

Different figures tipped to run embody former Residence Secretary Suella Braverman, who blamed the Tory defeat on an “idiotic” campaign strategy, in addition to excessive taxes and immigration.

On Saturday, she said she had “no announcements” on whether she would run, saying the social gathering wanted to “take our time” after a “actually dangerous outcome”.

Others talked about as potential management contenders embody former ministers Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, and Tom Tugendhat.

The pool of potential candidates has been diminished by the Tories’ disastrous election efficiency, with mooted contenders Grant Shapps and Penny Mordaunt amongst 12 cupboard ministers shedding their seats.

Two-time earlier candidate Jeremy Hunt, who served as Mr Sunak’s chancellor and narrowly held his seat, is reportedly not considering of operating once more.