Former Conservative MPs who lost their seats are urging for an active role in the post-election analysis, fearing that without a comprehensive review, the party might shift further to the right.
Many of these ex-MPs, defeated by narrow margins, are contemplating a swift return to the political arena.
At a recent gathering at London’s Carlton Club, attended by several senior Tory figures who faced defeat, there was a palpable determination to contest future elections rather than step away.
Among those hopeful for a comeback is former cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt, whose return is anticipated by many Tories.
Amid the discussions at the Carlton Club, there was a strong call for those who campaigned in closely fought constituencies to be included in the party’s analysis of its significant loss.
Tobias Ellwood, the former minister who lost his Bournemouth East seat by around 5,000 votes, emphasized the necessity of a thorough inquiry, asserting that the election defeat should serve as the party’s “teacher – not undertaker.”
Ellwood advocates for the inclusion of former MPs in the review process as the party digests the results and seeks new leadership.
In a piece for the Observer online, Ellwood lamented that currently, “no one is listening to us,” urging the party to utilize the coming months to conduct a thoughtful assessment of the historic defeat.
“A gathering at the Carlton Club last Wednesday illuminated a rare post-election opportunity that should not be ignored,” he wrote.
“Far from being a wake, there was a clear sense of resolve that many of us were not done. Bruised, yes – but energized to fight another day. Churchill would have approved – given that he lost his seat on more than one occasion.
“This wealth of parliamentary and ministerial expertise, respected constituency experience, coupled with a collective appetite to fight again must be harnessed to the full.”
Richard Graham, the former MP for Gloucester who lost by less than 4,000 votes, attributed the loss to voter fatigue over internal party conflicts.
“Anyone who has lost their seat is likely to be frustrated,” he remarked.
“But this election result stemmed from a widespread perception of poor behavior and infighting. We now have to re-earn trust by making sure that the focus of the entire party is simply on voters’ concerns – and there are plenty of them.”
Conservative Party Rift
The Conservative Party remains divided over its next steps, the reasons behind the loss, and the process of selecting a new leader to replace Rishi Sunak.
Allies of Sunak believe that the former prime minister is willing to stay on as leader if his successor is chosen by the Tory conference in the autumn and announced either during or immediately after the conference.
However, there is a range of opinions on how the party should proceed with the leadership search. Some Tory MPs have proposed an election postmortem that could delay the appointment of a new leader until next year.
This week will be pivotal, as the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs and the party’s board hold further discussions to finalize the process.
Tom Tugendhat, the shadow security minister and MP for Tonbridge, has emerged as a strong contender from the One Nation wing of the party, bolstered by the support of Steve Baker.
Baker, an influential former MP and Brexit advocate, co-authored an article with Damian Green endorsing Tugendhat.
Despite the decline in Tory seats since the election, Tugendhat would need to garner support from both the liberal and right wings of the party to mount a credible challenge.
Baker endorsed Tugendhat for being “the only one of the leadership contenders to vote against vaccine passports and to not support the [national insurance] rise” implemented by Sunak as chancellor.
Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch, the shadow housing secretary, remains the early frontrunner to replace Sunak. However, all potential candidates are waiting to announce their campaigns until the selection process is clearly defined.
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