Rishi Sunak takes accountability after leaked memo criticised MPs
Rishi Sunak insisted he took responsibility for the Conservatives‘ election campaign after a leaked memo criticised MPs for going on holiday and refusing to knock on doors.
Staff at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) accused MPs of focusing on ministerial responsibilities rather than the election effort.
News of the leak emerged as Government minister Steve Baker defended going for a break in Greece rather than campaigning in his constituency.
The memo, obtained by The Times, said a ‘key theme’ was that candidates had failed to ‘get behind’ the campaign after Mr Sunak surprised Westminster by calling a July 4 General Election.
The document was accidentally emailed to MPs by a senior campaigning figure at CCHQ, the newspaper reported.
Rishi Sunak insisted he took responsibility for the Conservatives ‘ election campaign after a leaked memo criticised MPs for going on holiday and refusing to knock on doors
Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker defended going for a break in Greece rather than campaigning in his constituency
The message had two attachments – a constituency breakdown with sanitised comments and another containing the unguarded comments of Conservative staff.
The document reveals seats which are short of funding and singles out some MPs for criticism over their efforts.
In Plymouth Moor View, the seat of veterans minister Johnny Mercer, staff said there was a issue with ‘MP co-operation with CCHQ’ and ‘funding issues – currently £2,000 in bank’ and support had been offered.
Environment minister Rebecca Pow, who is standing in Taunton and Wellington, was ‘still too focused on ‘ministerial business’ and non-committal on time she will spend in the seat now and during the campaign’, the memo said.
In Cheadle, Mary Robinson is ‘away for seven days on holiday’ during the campaign, the memo said.
A ‘lack of co-operation’ was also noted for Northern Ireland minister Mr Baker.
The Daily Mirror revealed that he continued with his holiday plans during what was supposed to be the parliamentary recess.
‘The Prime Minister told everyone we could go on holiday and then called a snap election,’ he told the Mirror from Vasiliki.
‘So I’ve chosen to do my campaign work in Greece.’
The Wycombe MP added: ‘I’ve been campaigning for months and my wife deserves to have her husband go away for a much needed break. It’s the only holiday we’ve got planned for the summer.’
Asked about the start of the campaign, the Prime Minister told ITV News: ‘Of course this is my responsibility, and I actually enjoyed the last few days.
‘A few days into this and I’ve been in the East Midlands and West Midlands, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland here in the South East.’
Asked why CCHQ was blaming MPs, Mr Sunak dodged the question: ‘What I’m doing is talking to people everywhere, about the choice of this election, and I was very clear that I’ve got a clear plan that I’m working through and you can see that that is happening with the economy.’
It comes as Tory MP Lucy Allen tonight quit the party in order to support a Reform UK candidate to replace her in her Telford constituency.
Ms Allan, who is standing down at the general election, endorsed Reform’s Alan Adams to succeed her in the Shropshire seat.
Following her public declaration of support for Mr Adams, the Conservatives took immediate action and suspended Ms Allan from the party.
Tory MP Lucy Allen tonight quit the party in order to support a Reform UK candidate to replace her in her Telford constituency
But, in the latest blow to Rishi Sunak during a bumpy start to the PM’s general election campaign, she claimed she had already quit the Tories in order to back Mr Adams’ bid.
Ms Allan claimed the Reform hopeful was ‘genuinely the best person for the job’ and warned against allowing the Labour candidate a ‘walkover’ in Telford.
She said: ‘I have resigned from the Conservative Party to support Alan Adams to be Telford’s next MP.
And last night, Rishi Sunak was forced to defend his controversial plans to revive National Service in the UK.
Amid unanswered questions about the details of the plan and how it would work, the Prime Minister assured voters that it would open doors for teenagers that they wouldn’t otherwise get through.
Under the plan, 18-year-olds will be given a choice between a full-time placement in the Armed Forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year volunteering’ in their community.
The policy announcement sparked a heated debate over the weekend – with Labour branding it ‘desperate’ and even some Conservatives worried that it was akin to a ‘grown-up Boy Scouts’. But others in the party backed the PM, as did former defence chiefs.
Last night, it was revealed that teenagers would be incentivised to sign up for the scheme with fast-tracked interviews for graduate schemes in both the private and public sectors, and the opportunity to highlight National Service on their UCAS applications to help them getting into university.
