Cabinet minister Rory Stewart today warned that the Tory party must restore its Brexit-battered reputation for economic competence.
“Under my leadership we will be realistic, prudent and sensible,” the International Development Secretary was set to say this afternoon at the launch of his campaign to be Prime Minister.
Mr Stewart, who is seen to have won the social media battle with a national “selfie” tour, said: “We have to be straight with people, truthful on Brexit and truthful on spending.
“We have to think about the next 15 years, not what works to get elected in a leadership contest. We must restore — for Britain and for the Conservative Party — our reputation for economic and fiscal prudence.”
He has warned that a no-deal will not get through Parliament and instead is stressing that the focus should be on the future political declaration, rather than trying to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement.
Former Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, launching her campaign, said children living in poverty should get free meals during the school holidays. She also promised further flexibility on free childcare for three- and four-year-olds.
She said: “I’ve seen for myself the serious issue of children going hungry during school holidays. So, I will pilot provision of holiday meals for those in need.”
Ex-chief whip Mark Harper, an outsider in the leadership race, called for a return to a “proper, functioning Cabinet government” and said it could “only be enforced by someone who hasn’t been party to the ‘worst example of ill-discipline in Cabinet in British political history’”.
