Theresa May says 'sorry' for disastrous Tory election performance
1 min read
Theresa May has apologised to Conservative members for her leadership of the general election campaign, telling her party's conference "I am sorry".
The Prime Minister took personal responsibility for her party's showing in the snap election, which she had been expected to win easily when she went to the country in April.
Last week she told PoliticsHome that Conservative HQ had not been properly prepared for the campaign, despite it being her decision to call the election in the first place.
But this morning she went further, telling party activists on the final day of Tory conference: "We did not get the victory we wanted because our national campaign fell short.
"It was too scripted. Too presidential. And it allowed the Labour party to paint us as the voice of continuity, when the public wanted to hear a message of change.
"I hold my hands up for that. I take responsibility. I led the campaign. And I am sorry."
In a highly personal address, she spoke about her family background and also made light of claims that she lacks warmth or charisma.
"I know that people think I'm not very emotional, I'm not the kind of person who wears their heart on their sleeve and I don't mind being called things like the Ice Maiden, though perhaps George Osborne did take the analogy a little too far."
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