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| 'Blue Collar Conservatism': Esther McVey launches Tory leadership bid | 'Blue Collar Conservatism': Esther McVey launches Tory leadership bid |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Esther McVey has launched a campaign to reconnect the Conservatives with working-class voters by promising to slash the overseas aid budget and give the money saved to schools and police. | |
| At an event also widely seen as the unofficial start of McVey’s personal push to replace Theresa May, the former work and pensions secretary said delivering Brexit alone would not be sufficient to arrest the party’s current slide. | At an event also widely seen as the unofficial start of McVey’s personal push to replace Theresa May, the former work and pensions secretary said delivering Brexit alone would not be sufficient to arrest the party’s current slide. |
| McVey, who quit the government late last year in protest at May’s Brexit plans, is seen as an outsider in the packed race to take over in Downing Street. She made it plain that whoever was the next prime minister, they must be a confirmed Brexiter and not a converted remainer such as Jeremy Hunt or Sajid Javid. | |
| The fortunes of the environment secretary remain hard to predict and opinion is split in the party. His detractors believe he is deeply unpopular with the country and has ruined his reputation for good when he stood against Johnson at the last leadership race. However, most MPs were delighted by his performance in the no-confidence vote where he tore into Corbyn. | The fortunes of the environment secretary remain hard to predict and opinion is split in the party. His detractors believe he is deeply unpopular with the country and has ruined his reputation for good when he stood against Johnson at the last leadership race. However, most MPs were delighted by his performance in the no-confidence vote where he tore into Corbyn. |
| While the response of many voters to mention of the health secretary is still likely to be ‘Who?’, to some he is starting to have the makings of a from-the-sidelines contender. The former culture secretary is only 40 but has six years of frontbench experience, and is on to his second cabinet post. | While the response of many voters to mention of the health secretary is still likely to be ‘Who?’, to some he is starting to have the makings of a from-the-sidelines contender. The former culture secretary is only 40 but has six years of frontbench experience, and is on to his second cabinet post. |
| The nickname ‘Theresa in trousers’ has stuck. Most colleagues speak about his candidacy unenthusiastically and warn about his reputation with the country after having weathered the junior doctors’ strike. He could still succeed by bridging the Brexit-remain divide and attracting colleagues looking for a moderate grown-up. | The nickname ‘Theresa in trousers’ has stuck. Most colleagues speak about his candidacy unenthusiastically and warn about his reputation with the country after having weathered the junior doctors’ strike. He could still succeed by bridging the Brexit-remain divide and attracting colleagues looking for a moderate grown-up. |
| The home secretary is reported to have told Tory MPs he is the only one who can beat Jeremy Corbyn in a general election, but has made less of an impact than first predicted. Several MPs believe that the case of Isis bride Shamima Begum was mishandled and find Javid’s speeches and vision less than inspiring. | The home secretary is reported to have told Tory MPs he is the only one who can beat Jeremy Corbyn in a general election, but has made less of an impact than first predicted. Several MPs believe that the case of Isis bride Shamima Begum was mishandled and find Javid’s speeches and vision less than inspiring. |
| Still favourite for the top job, Johnson has kept himself out of the messiest Tory warfare in 2019 and has enthusiastic support from younger Brexiter MPs – and the patronage of Jacob Rees-Mogg. His supporters insist no other name on the list can connect with voters in the same way and win a general election. However, his reputation is still severely damaged from his time as foreign secretary and there is a concerted ‘anyone but Boris’ campaign among party colleagues. | Still favourite for the top job, Johnson has kept himself out of the messiest Tory warfare in 2019 and has enthusiastic support from younger Brexiter MPs – and the patronage of Jacob Rees-Mogg. His supporters insist no other name on the list can connect with voters in the same way and win a general election. However, his reputation is still severely damaged from his time as foreign secretary and there is a concerted ‘anyone but Boris’ campaign among party colleagues. |
| Leadsom has revived her reputation somewhat during her tenure as Commons leader, especially her rounds in the ring with the Speaker, John Bercow. However, few believe she would ever be first choice again among Eurosceptics and a number of her former campaign team have said they will discourage her from running. | Leadsom has revived her reputation somewhat during her tenure as Commons leader, especially her rounds in the ring with the Speaker, John Bercow. However, few believe she would ever be first choice again among Eurosceptics and a number of her former campaign team have said they will discourage her from running. |
| Former cabinet minister McVey has already announced her intention to run. She has the Brexit credentials, having quit as Work and Pensions Secretary in protest at Theresa May's withdrawal agreement, and claims to already have enough support from fellow MPs to make her bid viable. | Former cabinet minister McVey has already announced her intention to run. She has the Brexit credentials, having quit as Work and Pensions Secretary in protest at Theresa May's withdrawal agreement, and claims to already have enough support from fellow MPs to make her bid viable. |
| The international development secretary is a confirmed Brexiter, which will appeal to much of the leadership electorate, but is also decidedly liberal on social issues, so could be seen as a unifier. But for some the idea of Mordaunt is more credible than the reality. There is still, however, time for her to turn this impression around. | The international development secretary is a confirmed Brexiter, which will appeal to much of the leadership electorate, but is also decidedly liberal on social issues, so could be seen as a unifier. But for some the idea of Mordaunt is more credible than the reality. There is still, however, time for her to turn this impression around. |
| The former Brexit secretary has a loyal fanbase and a professional team, including support from Vote Leave’s ex-comms director Paul Stephenson. MPs are forming the view that the next party leader should be a younger face from a new generation of politicians – which gives Raab the edge over Boris Johnson. | The former Brexit secretary has a loyal fanbase and a professional team, including support from Vote Leave’s ex-comms director Paul Stephenson. MPs are forming the view that the next party leader should be a younger face from a new generation of politicians – which gives Raab the edge over Boris Johnson. |
| The work and pensions secretary, the favourite among the party’s left, has all but ruled herself out of the race. She could still be a powerful kingmaker, and is being wooed as a running mate by everyone from Johnson and Michael Gove to Hunt. | The work and pensions secretary, the favourite among the party’s left, has all but ruled herself out of the race. She could still be a powerful kingmaker, and is being wooed as a running mate by everyone from Johnson and Michael Gove to Hunt. |
| Truss has worked the circuit more than almost any other potential candidate, speaking on the future of the Tory party at almost any venue that will have her – thinktanks, launches and in weekend newspaper spreads. She hopes to win Brexiter backing with a publicly enthusiastic embrace of a no-deal Brexit – much to the scepticism of Treasury colleagues. | Truss has worked the circuit more than almost any other potential candidate, speaking on the future of the Tory party at almost any venue that will have her – thinktanks, launches and in weekend newspaper spreads. She hopes to win Brexiter backing with a publicly enthusiastic embrace of a no-deal Brexit – much to the scepticism of Treasury colleagues. |
| Among the senior figures not expected to run are Brandon Lewis, the party chairman, Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, and Philip Hammond, the chancellor, who acknowledges that he is not popular enough. Gavin Williamson’s recent sacking after the Huawei leak inquiry will also surely rule him out as an option this time around. | Among the senior figures not expected to run are Brandon Lewis, the party chairman, Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, and Philip Hammond, the chancellor, who acknowledges that he is not popular enough. Gavin Williamson’s recent sacking after the Huawei leak inquiry will also surely rule him out as an option this time around. |
| Speaking at launch event in Westminster, McVey said her new group, called Blue Collar Conservatism, would push for the overseas aid budget to be cut from the current level of about £14.5bn a year to the £8.5bn seen in 2010. | Speaking at launch event in Westminster, McVey said her new group, called Blue Collar Conservatism, would push for the overseas aid budget to be cut from the current level of about £14.5bn a year to the £8.5bn seen in 2010. |
| The balance would be spent on schools and police, McVey said, implicitly acknowledging that current government spending levels were insufficient. A lack of police resources had led to “crime that is blighting our streets and making people at home feel unsafe”, she said. | |
| On Brexit, McVey said a no-deal departure should take place if no deal could be agreed before the next deadline. “That is what is essential, that we’ll be out on 31 October – no more backsliding. And if it means without a deal, we’ll be out.” | |
| Asked whether someone such as Hunt, the foreign secretary, or Javid, the home secretary, could become leader, McVey did not rule them out by name, but made her view plain. “Whatever they voted, they can tell you, but it has to be somebody who believes, who’s got the passion to drive it forward,” she said. | |
| She said the Brexit delay had dismayed working-class voters and broken their trust. “To win their trust back, we must not just deliver what we promised, but we must be prepared to have a radical Conservative agenda to show that are are on their side.” | |
| Other policy ideas included targeted tax cuts aimed at poorer workers, more apprenticeships and better bus services. | |
| Introducing McVey, the Mansfield MP Ben Bradley said the mission of the group was to reconnect the Tories with places like his constituency, “the kind of community that’s felt left behind by governments, that’s felt it’s had things done to it rather than it’s genuinely had a say.” | |
| He said: “So many people in those traditional working-class communities are naturally Conservative. Highly unionised industries, emotional and political history around coalfields or factory closure led them to vote Labour, but they aren’t socialists.” | He said: “So many people in those traditional working-class communities are naturally Conservative. Highly unionised industries, emotional and political history around coalfields or factory closure led them to vote Labour, but they aren’t socialists.” |
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