Former government minister Mel Stride has said there is a “reasonable chance” he will run to become leader of the Conservative Party.
The shadow work and pensions secretary said he was considering standing to replace Rishi Sunak as it was “important for the country that we have a strong Conservative Party”.
He told Sky News’ Breakfast with Kay Burley: “We’ll have to see, I haven’t made any decisions.
“We don’t know what the process is.
“Colleagues have been talking to me about this, I’m considering what I can and can’t do.”
He added that there is a “reasonable chance” he will run and make a decision “relatively soon.”
Stride said if he runs as a candidate he won’t engage in “blue vs. blue” fights to gain support.
The shadow minister, who was Work and Pensions Secretary under Sunak, added that the Conservative Party needs to “appeal” to the voters it lost to Reform UK.
“How we need to appeal to those we have lost to both the Labor Party and the Liberal Democrats,” he said.
Stride said he believes his party can regain public support if it “comes together as a party… and gets the right prospectus”, as well as showing “steady competence in opposition”.
“The first basis in all of this is to have a leader who will unite the parliamentary party, and if we can unite, then I think we will be unstoppable,” he said.
“Because there is a deep reservoir of talent and ideas, both within the parliamentary party and the wider party, including members, that we can draw on to ensure we have the right offer for the British people.
“Now, I know it can be done. It won’t be easy, but I’m absolutely confident it can be done.”
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Giving an idea of what he could offer as leader of the Tory party, he said there was a need to “overcome illegal migration” and reduce taxes – which he said were not right-wing ideas, but what “the British people worry”. passionately about.”
How the leadership campaign will work has not yet been confirmed, however, last week senior Conservative MPs appeared win a battle against party officials who wanted a quick competition to happen.
There are expected to be hustings at the Conservative conference from September 29th, followed by voting by MPs and then party members.
Stride said he believes a decision on the lawsuit will be made “very soon.”
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Former home secretary Priti Patel has already said she plans to stand, while Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are almost certainly ready to run.
Suella Braverman, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat and Victoria Atkins are also likely candidates.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
