John Major hits out at ‘self-absorbed’ and 'disloyal' Theresa May plotters
3 min read
John Major has called for Tory MPs to back Theresa May, while rounding on “self-absorbed” and “disloyal” attempts from within the party to unseat her.
The former Conservative Prime Minister said those linked with plots to challenge Mrs May needed to “put the British people before personal ambition”, or risk handing a “neo-Marxist” Labour government the keys to Number 10.
His intervention comes just days after reported attempts by senior MPs to remove her, spearheaded by former Tory party chair Grant Shapps who insisted he had the signatures of around 30 MPs.
Sir John, whose own premiership was latterly clouded by intense in-fighting said he had watched recent events with “increasing dismay”.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said: "Their behaviour does nothing to repair the battered reputation of politics. It is not what our country wants or needs – nor does it serve it well.
“Politics is not a game. Government even less so. Their conduct has undermined their own party, their own Prime Minister, and their own Government. It is profoundly unbecoming and it must stop.
He added: “The country has had enough of the self-absorbed and, frankly, disloyal behaviour we have witnessed over recent weeks.
“It is time for the individuals concerned - both in Parliament and in Government - to focus their minds instead on the needs of the British people, rather than on their own personal ambition.”
The former Tory leader said he “recoiled” at the “nightmare” of a Labour government, but that the Conservatives had to “win back the hearts and minds” of voters in order to see them off.
“Every Conservative must recognise that Labour’s shortcomings alone will not deliver an Election victory to us. It is time for us to wake up and smell the coffee.
“Our party’s support is ageing. Our policies are not attracting enough of the young, millions of whom believe the decision to leave Europe has damaged their future, for which they blame us.
“The reactionary element of our Right-wing repels more electors than it enthuses.
“Many people in our country – especially those who have fallen behind – are disillusioned, angry, and fearful over what the future holds in an increasingly uncertain and volatile world.
“Speculation over who has which ministerial job – and when – is of absolutely no consequence to those whose money runs out before the end of each week.
“The British people are sick and tired of the navel-gazing that has dominated the news headlines, all of which has been deeply unedifying to behold."
'BRAVE SOLUTIONS'
He said the “radical” action promised by Mrs May when she took over the top job needed to be implemented, including an end to the “messy, socially unfair and unforgiving” Universal Credit system.
“We must be ambitious. Deep-rooted problems need more than a piecemeal, timid, toe-in-the-water approach that might one day offer improvements. We need brave solutions. Our plans must engage government and private sector alike.
“We need to involve faster and better public investment. We need to widen and accelerate educational reform. And we must demonstrate a clear priority for the interests of the ‘have-nots’,” he said.
He added: “We must persuade the Treasury that – while the cost of long-term borrowing is low – there is an opportunity to vastly accelerate public development of infrastructure and, in particular, housing. Useful initiatives have been announced but we need to go further. If this increases public debt we should – and could – accept that (as I believe the markets will) provided annual revenue expenditure is kept under control.”
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