Tom Tugendhat has declared that the British public will “never vote for a party that they’ve stopped taking seriously,” as he launched his campaign for the Conservative Party leadership.

Tugendhat, who previously served as the security minister, vowed to lead a “Conservative revolution,” positioning himself as the candidate who will restore integrity and realism to the party.

In his speech delivered in Westminster, Tugendhat addressed the challenges that have plagued the Conservatives during their time in power, characterized by internal conflicts and a loss of public trust.

“I will make the Conservative Party a serious force again. I will make us respected for our experience and our realism, admired for our integrity, acknowledged for our achievements, and given credit for seeing the errors that we may make and correcting them,” he asserted, signaling his intent to rebuild the party’s credibility.

Tugendhat did not shy away from acknowledging the party’s recent failures. “I witnessed the recent political trauma with a combination of depression and anger. I witnessed the failed coups and the successful ones, and I saw duty give way to ego,” he said, offering an apology for the party’s conduct.

He emphasized that change is essential for the country, stating, “That’s why I’m standing before you today because this country can change. We must change, and Britain deserves better.”

Promises Conservative Revolution, Focus on Integrity

When questioned about his silence on controversial decisions during his time under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, Tugendhat explained that his role as security minister required discretion. “My job was to keep the king’s secrets,” he noted, adding that his focus was on addressing immediate threats to national security.

Despite lagging behind rivals Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick in terms of MP endorsements, Tugendhat is seen as a representative of the centrist One Nation wing of the party.

However, he rejected the label of being a centrist, asserting himself as a “conservative candidate.” In his speech, he laid out tough stances on migration and Britain’s relationship with international treaties, specifically the European Convention on Human Rights.

Tugendhat promised to leave the treaty if it failed to serve Britain’s interests. He emphasized, “The entire purpose of international treaties is to keep British people safe, not for us to worship international treaties.”

Among his key pledges, Tugendhat vowed to impose a legally binding cap on net migration at 100,000 and criticized Labour’s plan to levy VAT on private schools, warning that it could lead to increased pressure on state schools.

He also outlined a proposal to allocate 3% of GDP to defense, reinforcing his stance that “The purpose of British foreign policy is to keep the British people safe and prosperous.”

Tugendhat’s speech marked the final campaign launch of the Conservative leadership contest before the private hustings for Tory MPs scheduled for Tuesday night.

The leadership race, which will see MPs begin the first round of voting on Wednesday, is expected to eliminate at least one candidate.

Tugendhat, Jenrick, and Badenoch are currently viewed as the frontrunners to advance to the next stage, with the final two candidates to be selected for a vote by Tory members. The winner of the leadership contest is anticipated to be announced on 2 November.