Former Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has announced he will run to succeed Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party.
The Central Devon MP told BBC Breakfast: “I’ve been duly nominated. I was nominated yesterday morning and my candidacy was confirmed.”
Stride said the Conservative party had not only “lost a great deal of the trust of the British people” but also “lost its reputation for effectiveness”.
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He told BBC Breakfast: “What the general election shows us is that we’re in a really difficult place as a party and that worries me because I care about my party and I care about my country.”
“We have lost a great deal of trust among the British public and a reputation for competence. I believe we are in a very good position to deal with these issues going forward. In terms of trust, [the party] We need someone who can unite the party.
“People are not going to vote for parties that are constantly at each other’s throats. I think I’m respected across party lines in Congress. I’ve been chairman of the Finance Committee, I’ve been House Majority Leader. All of those roles bring people together.”
Mr Stride said the Conservatives needed to restructure the party into a “fighting machine”, adding: “With county council and other elections coming up next year I think we are well placed to drive that change.”
