Politics

Tory leadership race: Matt Hancock calls delivering Brexit ‘mission critical’ after Euro elections results – but rival Hunt says no-deal would be ‘political suicide’



Tory leadership hopeful Matt Hancock says it is “mission critical” to deliver Brexit before a general election takes place after the party’s humiliating performance at the European elections. 

The Health Secretary, who has announced his candidacy to replace Theresa May, said the Conservatives must “hold their nerve” and “get on” with leaving the EU in a bid to “win back” voters lost to both the Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party.

Mr Hancock warned that Tory voters who supported Remain and younger voters are being “hoovered up by the Lib Dems”.

He wrote in the Daily Mail: “We’ve lost many long-standing voters to the Brexit Party – not because of any details of the deal we proposed – but simply because we haven’t delivered Brexit yet. 

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said a no-deal Brexit would be “political suicide” (EPA)

“It’s not that most people want a No Deal Brexit, but because so many rightly think we should have left by now and want us to get on with it. So it is mission critical we deliver Brexit before any general election.

“Looking at these dire European election results we must hold our nerve, focus on what really matters to people and get to where we win elections – with a broad appeal based on rising pay in a growing economy. That way we can win once again.”

Mr Hancock’s comments came as rival leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt warned that the Tories would be committing “political suicide” by pushing through a no-deal Brexit.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the foreign secretary said any Prime Minister who tried to leave the EU without a deal would trigger a general election which risked the “extinction” of the Conservative Party.

Mr Hunt said: “The results contain a simple message which we ignore at our peril: if we attempt a general election before we have delivered Brexit we will be annihilated.

“Attacked by the Brexit Party on the Right and the Liberal Democrats on the Left, we will face extinction. 

“Any candidate for prime minister whose strategy leads inexorably to a general election is offering a prospectus for disaster. 

“Trying to deliver no deal through a general election is not a solution. It is political suicide, that would delight Nigel Farage and probably put Jeremy Corbyn in No 10 by Christmas.” 

But rival Esther McVey said on Twitter: “Political suicide actually lies in not having a clean break from the EU and not leaving on the 31st October.”

Ten Conservatives have now thrown their hat into the ring to replace Mrs May when she stands down on June 7. 

Housing minister Kit Malthouse became the latest candidate to add his name to the growing list on Monday.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart, Home Secretary Sajid Javid and former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have said they will run for party leader.

Andrea Leadsom resigned last week to join the race, and will also be joined by former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab.



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