Time for Tories to 'reframe and reset' their strategy | Kate McCann

well he's sort of saying there a combination of shy Tories and it's the economy stupid might be enough to scrape them closer to labor yeah I mean I think the reality is that you would be very hardpressed to find even in the cabinet at this point in time somebody who would tell you that the Tories can win the next general election but if you accept that that is the position and if you accept as Mel stride said very clearly there but which you know the Tories do they still have many months until the next general election they have to do something they have to say something and so I think this week is all about trying to reframe and reset that position for the conservative party and I mean largely the focus is going to be on the economy for for quite a long time now those behind the Tories election strategy have believed that if people felt better off by the time an election came then they would give the credit to the Tory party and they would get reelected or at least come close I think that for a long time people have actually already made their mind up even if they've priced that in but the prime minister is going to try and suggest this week that that we are at a turning point and that things are going to start to feel better and that where he's going to try and rebuild from was he lucky do you think with the with the chronology of the weekend that if the if you know they vot counted Andy Street's votes or the West Midland's votes quicker if a hundred more people had voted reform in the byelection if they announced London quicker so there wasn't that Preposterous rumor about Susan Hall he kind of and there was a bank then a bank holiday was he saying sa In The End by the virtue of how long it took for all of this stuff to bleed out and then a bank holiday or do you think he was always going to be safe and there was always going to be months ahead of an election I think the truth is that that in in terms of talking about whether he was the Prime Minister was going to be safe what we're really talking about is whether a plot was ever going to materialize and I think the reality is that those behind it if they ever were very great in number had probably made their minds up that there was just not going to be enough time at this point I mean if you think about it to get a leadership campaign up and running to be able to select a new leader and then come up with a policy platform potentially within just a couple of months unless those things were very developed and and we know that they really weren't then that would be very difficult indeed and I think we we talked about it on this program didn't we when I went on that trip with the prime minister to Germany and Poland there was a feeling that there had been a shift in mindset there I think from number 10 almost a challenge to those who were plotting to say well don't push me because I don't think you're ready and I can call an election so I think something shifted somewhere and you know given I mean the local elections were were bad for the Tories there is no other way to spin it but they always were going to be very very bad so you know partly that was priced in so what is s bravman doing then because there is this argument that I can't really see any polling evidence for that oh you need to be more right-wing if you're much more straightforwardly rightwing in the in the mold of SW bravman you can somehow turn this around is she doing that because she thinks that's a viable advice to Rishi sunk or is she sort of staking out out her area for the postelection leadership challenge what's the point of the right of the party agitating do do they want to see more right-wing policies or are they just trying to get their voice heard ahead of what might be um a tumultuous time for the Tory party after the election I think it's a bit of both I mean you've got to remember that these are people who have dedicated their lives in many cases to political campaigning to being a member of a political party and in order to do that at that level you really do genuinely have to believe in it because it's not a particularly enjoyable job on many fronts and so you know these are people who spend a lot of time thinking about well what is conservatism what what is the conservative party for why am I a member of it still so in that sense I think people like soel bravman and there are others in the party on that wing of the party who feel similarly they believe that to be conservative means you stick to certain values and they see their party shifting from those values and they don't like it and I mean that said there is also clearly a battle being fought for the future of the party and really I think that's what's happened after these local elections that the argument has moved from can we win the general election and how do we do it to okay well we're probably not going to win the general election so what happens next and that argument is much more difficult because it is all about what's a fundamental value compared to those who will say well look the Tory party wins when it's in the center ground and that might be uncomfortable for you but if we're ever going going to get back into power and we're going to do it quickly then we have to shift in that direction so that that's really what's going on I think now yeah and that means that different members of the party are pointing in exactly opposite directions and how that resolves itself will be very interesting even before and then certainly after the election Kate it's it's a fascinating time good to speak to you thank you for joining us well obviously disappointing to lose conservative counselors and a fantastic mayor for the West Midlands in Andy Street and I'm grateful to them for their public service and all their hard work and look for my part reflecting on it I'm determined more than ever to demonstrate to the country that we are making progress on the areas that matter to them and we are going to deliver for them and just in the last few weeks you can see the evidence of that taxes being cut by £900 for an average worker inflation coming down plans to reform our welfare system support people into work legal migration now coming down to sustainable levels and our oranda program being implemented as people can see but crucially also a big strengthening of National Defense recognizing the increasing challenges we face around the world so I'm determined more than ever to deliver for people and show them that what we're doing is making a difference kitchen is very nutritious meal very most cost effective [Music] vegan thank you I nice bow of kery for you there we go yeah that's good how many out here did you say what the independent analysis shows that whilst of course this was a disappointing weekend for us that the result of the next general election isn't a foregone conclusion and indeed actually is closer than or the situation is closer than many people are saying or indeed some of the opinion polls are predicting and that's why I'm absolutely determined to fight incredibly hard for what I believe and for the future country that I want to build and that's what I'm going to do fight for this country fight for the things I believe and deliver for everyone on the things that matter to them I've been very consistant that we are concerned deeply concerned about the prospect of a military incursion into RAF given the number of civilians that are Sheltering there and the importance of that Crossing for Aid I've made those points repeatedly to prime minister net and Yahoo the priority right now should be on all parties but particularly Hamas to agree to a deal to release hostages and allow more Aid to go in as part of a temporary pause which will allow us to build a sustainable ceasefire that's the best way to end the suffering and that's what I'll continue to call on all parties to do e

Channel: Times Radio

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Id: 5e4d9e3Tvx4

Length: 8min 6sec (486 seconds)

Published: Tue May 07 2024