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Welsh Conservative chairman tells party to ‘unite’ behind Liz Truss against ‘anti-growth coalition’

09 Oct 2022 5 minute read
Glyn Davies

A letter by the Chairman of the Welsh Conservatives has told the party to “unite” behind the Prime Minister against the so-called “anti-growth coalition”.

The letter signed by Glyn Davies as well as the chairman of the Scottish and Northern Ireland Conservatives and English regions, says that they were “alarmed” by the infighting at the party conference in Birmingham.

Tensions were still running high on Sunday, as a senior Tory MP warned the current mood in the party is “febrile”, with many backbenchers – and indeed members of the Government -“very concerned at where we are in the polls”.

A No 10 source said the “cold, hard reality” is the party must “get behind Liz” or wind up with a “monstrous coalition of Labour and the SNP”, amid deep division in Tory ranks – with flashpoints including welfare and the environment.

And in his letter alongside the other chairmen, former Assembly Member Glyn Davies said: “As the leadership of the voluntary party we urge the entire Conservative Party to stop infighting, unite behind the Prime Minister and focus on delivering for this country and taking on the Labour Party.

“We have been alarmed at the breakdown of collective responsibility this week and we are saddened at those in the party who have tried to undermine the new Prime Minister and the entire Conservative Government.

“The Conservative Party is nothing if it is not united. The alternative is a tax-raising Labour prime minister at the head of an anti-growth coalition that will set Britain back decades.

“These are challenging times this country is facing. We know this, but time and time again the Labour Party has shown it does not have the answers.

“We know that our members do not like sniping from the backbenches, or disloyalty. Yes, mistakes have been made, but it is the sign of a strong leader to recognise those mistakes and correct course.

“We owe the Prime Minister our support. The members just one month ago gave that support and remain loyal – as was demonstrated by the rousing reception to her conference speech. The entire party must now come together and deliver for Britain.”

‘Focus’

Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi today warned “delay is our biggest enemy” as he sought to quell disquiet in Tory ranks.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said colleagues must “focus” on delivering for the country, as any “dither” will “end in defeat” for the Conservatives.

It comes after Mr Zahawi, along with three other Cabinet ministers, wrote articles for Sunday papers calling on Conservatives to rally behind Liz Truss as the Prime Minister battles to steady the ship following an annual party conference blighted by infighting.

Mr Zahawi used a round of broadcast interviews on Sunday to call for the party to unite or risk sacrificing the keys to No 10 to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, presented by Trevor Phillips, he said: “We’ve got two years to demonstrate to the nation that we can deliver.

“I want my colleagues to obviously focus, because any dither or delay will end in defeat.”

He said attention should be directed towards “delivery” and “policy” rather than personal attacks, after Michael Gove was branded “sadistic” by a source in a newspaper article.

‘Unifier’

Behind the scenes, bitter anonymous briefings are rife – with one report harbouring the particularly harsh words for Mr Gove after he helped force Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s humiliating U-turn on tax at the party’s conference in Birmingham.

Nadine Dorries, who has been critical of the Government’s current trajectory, also urged support for the Prime Minister, as she said she is “still one of Liz’s biggest supporters”.

But she suggested Ms Truss should look at “nuancing the policies and the mandate that she’s taking forward in a slightly different way”.

“The fact is that just after a leadership election, and at the start of a new administration, what we don’t need is a disrupter, what we need is a unifier,” she told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.

“And I think probably that the new Prime Minister has realised that over the last few weeks.”

‘Tougher’

Meanwhile, senior Tory Mel Stride said it is “fairly febrile” being a Conservative MP at the moment, as he argued there have been “too many missteps” by the new Government.

“There are a lot of backbenchers and indeed members of the Government who are very concerned at where we are in the polls,” he told Times Radio.

“We’ve got two years to a general election. There’s a recognition that we’ve got to turn things around and start doing it very quickly. I think most people do, as I do, see the economy as being right at the heart of that… and that there have been too many missteps.”

In addition to “the policy and the economics”, the chairman of the Treasury Select Committee pointed to “the management of the parliamentary party”.

“Now the… Prime Minister decided to, after she won that contest, to form a Government which was predominantly made up of those that were strong supporters of her personally – and that’s fine, and I have no problem with that,” he said.

“But I think there was a shortfall when it came to reaching out right across the party, and I think you’re probably seeing some of the consequences of that now that things are getting a bit tougher.”

Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth warned the UK is in a “perilous moment” because of decisions taken by Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng.

He dismissed claims that a Labour government would be “propped up” by the SNP, branding the suggestion “complete and utter nonsense and desperate”.


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Ceramike
Ceramike
2 years ago

As Truss and Kwarteng have already ably demonstrated when it comes to anti growth they have no equals. They’ve trashed the economy already and the whole country knows it. The Conservative policy is the major block to growth, they are the anti growth party.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

In a show of total disregard for the poor and the struggling in society, Mr Glyn Davies calls for support for a PM, who has seen the economy and the currency go down the pan overnight with one mini budget. He calls for support while the B of E spend £3.8 billion buying UK gov bonds to save the economy. What a show of selfishness, as he displays all that is evil in this Gov in a desperate attempt to cling to power. Horrid man.

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Gareth

He’s a tory, what else would you expect,

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

Sorry, I forgot the Tory mantra,” there is no society, only self”.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

Glyn Davies’ struggle to keep whats left of the moderate wing of his party in play must be a difficult and often thankless task. The 20 per cent of our nation who vote tory come hell or high water need to be respected as they need to respect the 80 per cent who are not convinced by ! their Westminster always knows best ‘message. Glyns’ own loyalty to our Language and Culture is well known and his as is his high standing across the political spectrum and we can only guess that his campaign for St Davids Day might well… Read more »

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Richard

Anyone stupid enough to get behind truss now, needs to be seriously looked into, as far as respect goes, it’s reciprocal, when they start respecting the environment they live in and the people who have to live alongside them, they might get some in return, but I think hell will be frozen over by then.

Llyn
Llyn
2 years ago

So the plucky Conservatives are going to take on the “monstrous coalition of Labour and the SNP” and the “anti growth coalition”. One big problem with this this grand plan. Neither coalition actually exists, other than in the fevered minds of the Truss supporters.

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago

“anti growth coalition” is a BS term made up by right wing think tanks to give people like tory voters an enemy, a bit like boat people or illegal migrants, unfortunately there are too many people in Wales that are willing to fall for this BS and go along with the nasty party.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago

Seriously Mr Davies is that what you really believe…Who will ever trust your judgement again…loyalty is one thing but being a party to your country and people going to the dogs should damn you for the rest of your, hopefully short, career…

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
2 years ago

The Tories have a leader who thinks she is Margaret Thatcher who was described and acknowledged as a ‘divisive figure’ so are they surprised to be falling apart now? I hope to see the Tories in Westminster emulate their counterparts in Y Senedd. 16 little whingers whingeing for the sake of it and having no influence and no effect. That’s what I dream of Home Secretary.

Arwyn
Arwyn
2 years ago

Anyone else noticed how Orwellian Tory language has become these last few years or so?

Y Tywysog Lloegr a Moscow
Y Tywysog Lloegr a Moscow
2 years ago

If they have to be told. She is not a unifying leader. Desperation tactics

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