Theresa May to apologise to Conservative conference for election result - report
2 min read
Theresa May is preparing to apologise to Conservative members for the mistakes that led to the party’s general election losses, according to a report.
The Prime Minister will urge the party to unite behind her leadership at the October event, while acknowledging the frustration of activists after the Tories were forced to reach a deal with the DUP to secure a Commons majority.
“She knows she has to say sorry very loudly and clearly to the tens of thousands of our supporters who did all the door-knocking in the election,” one of her advisers told the Mail on Sunday.
“She will say she feels the same pain as they do, say she has learned her lesson and is ready to change, take advice and be more open.
"She will ask them to trust her and stick with her through Brexit. She has to stop comments about her being robotic – it isn’t true.”
The paper reports that Mrs May in her apology – dubbed her “May-a-culpa” – will say sorry for previously ruling out a snap election, for sidelining Cabinet ministers on policies like the controversial “dementia tax”, and for appearing aloof and robotic during the campaign.
The report comes alongside separate claims that Cabinet ministers are urging her to dispose of ministers that are seen to have under-performed.
Since the election only Liz Truss has been demoted from her post, while advisers Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill left shortly after the result.
The Sunday Telegraph reports that Philip Hammond, Sir Michael Fallon, Justine Greening, Sajid Javid and Andrea Leadsom are among the names being cited as potential victims in a reshuffle.
One minister told the paper: “People want some blood-letting. She has got to get rid of several to them.”
Another minister told The Sun: “There is a growing feeling that she has to show who’s boss and that will mean exerting her authority soon.”
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