Rishi Sunak declares himself «Prime Minister of the North»

Rishi Sunak delivered the keynote speech at the Tory Northern Research Group conference. Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Rishi Sunak has declared himself «Prime Minister of the North» as he promised a «fair deal» for the region.

Speaking to Northern MPs and voters upon returning from a trip to Washington, D.C., he said that «without them, the Conservatives have no way to win the election» as the majority of the party «passes» through the North.

He also pointed out that «the man in Whitehall doesn't know better», as Sir Jake said. Berry, former chairman of the Tory Party, urged Conservatives to «blow up blobonomics» if they want to save the Red Wall.

In his keynote address at the second annual conference of the influential Conservative Research Group (NRG) in Doncaster, the Prime Minister said that the government is «absolutely committed» to the North.

“A stronger North means a stronger Britain,” he said. «We know that our majority resides across the North and that without you there is no path to electoral success.»

He rejected calls to appoint a Minister for the North, declaring himself «Prime Minister of the North», adding that he believes in a «fair deal» for the region.

Sir Jake, the founder of NRG, used his own speech to call on the Tories to be «bold enough» to take on «Whitehall orthodoxy» in their next manifesto.

“It must be planning to disrupt the political, social and economic influence of the blob — or blobonomics as I call it,” he said.

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Mr Sunak said he wants the Tories to bid for the next national vote to be «clearly conservative.»

«I want this to reflect that we're proud of our nation, we support the institutions that make it great — from royal family to every family,” he said.

“We want people to take back control of their lives. We are a party that believes that a person makes better choices about his life than the state.

«We know that the man in Whitehall doesn't know best. Our manifesto will reaffirm that we are the party with the energy and ideas to change Britain.»

G- Sunak said he ordered his cabinet to «relentlessly focus on implementation» to prove to voters that the Tories are «worthy of their trust.»

He added: «I know many voters here have cast their votes for us. They decided that after many generations of Labor they deserved something better, and they were right.

«And we have to show them that we are worthy of this trust and support by providing them with help.»

Nick Fletcher, Conservative MP for Don Valley, said the fact that Mr. Sunak took the time to come to the conference so soon after his trip to the US showed «how important» the region is to him.