Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt enter Tory leadership race

Sajid Javid – Mr Hunt has told The Sunday Telegraph he is standing to be a leader of the Conservative Party “because we have to restore trust, grow the economy, and win the next election”.

He added: “Those are the three things that have to happen and I believe I can do that.”

Speaking in the “basement kitchen of his central London townhouse”, Mr Hunt said he started the week “desperately worried for the country and for the Conservative Party”.

He went on: “We were rapidly losing the trust of large swathes of the electorate, including many people who voted for us.

“We were in a situation where the country was facing paralysis; the government wasn’t able to deliver what it promised.

“So I think I feel a sense of relief that that at least has been resolved.”

Mr Hunt wants to reduce business taxes. He told the newspaper he would cut corporation tax to 15% and remove business rates for five years for the most in-need communities.

Turning to the Tories’ electoral chances, he said: “We have to be honest that over the last year we lost the trust of many swathes of people who voted Conservative in 2019.

“I am the only major candidate who has not served in Boris Johnson’s government. I called out what was going wrong long before any of the other major contenders and I have not been defending the indefensible.

“So by choosing me, the Conservative Party is sending a signal to those voters that we have listened to your concerns and we have changed. That is the most important thing we need to do now. It is to restore trust.”

It seems fair to say that the following weeks will containing a fair amount of bitching and backbiting.

In an early sign of that, Grant Shapps has taken a swipe at colleagues who may have been plotting their Tory leadership bids for weeks or even months.

Rishi Sunak’s Ready For Rishi website, which redirects to his official page, was reportedly set up in December 2021.

Mr Shapps, the transport secretary, told The Sunday Times: “I have not spent the last few turbulent years plotting or briefing against the prime minister.

“I have not been mobilising a leadership campaign behind his back.

“I tell you this: for all his flaws – and who is not flawed – I like Boris Johnson.

“I have never, for a moment, doubted his love of this country.”

Mr Sunak’s team has said internet domains are bought regularly, adding that they had been transferred a number of them.

Mr Shapps is not the only Tory having a go at Mr Sunak.

Marcus Fysh, Conservative MP for Yeovil, said he was backing Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to be the next Tory leader.

He tweeted: “There are many great talents and friends standing for Conservative leader but for me the one who is experienced, tough, practical, has the right economic plan, will sort the NI Protocol and make the most of independence from the EU, unite party and country and win is Liz Truss.”

Source – https://news.sky.com/