Mr Korsky said the Conservative base in the capital is “crumbling”. Photo: Ben Stevens CCHQ/Parsons Media.
Conservative London mayoral partner says he draws inspiration from David Cameron and West Midlands mayor Andy Street to reclaim the capital for his party.< /p>
Daniel Korsky, a tech entrepreneur who worked for Cameron on Downing Street, said he would be channeling “Cameronian optimism and civic service” as he vies for the nomination.
And added that if the Tories have a mayoral candidate who simply appeals to their primary vote, “you just won't win” because the party's base in the capital is “collapsing.”
Mr Korski is one of the three contenders who made it to the final list of Conservative candidates to take on Sadiq Khan of the Labor Party in next May's elections, along with London Assembly member Susan Hall and Mozammel Hossain KC, a criminal lawyer.
< p>Commenting for The Telegraph, he said his message to Londoners would be led by Mr Street, who was elected mayor of the West Midlands in 2017 and re-elected in 2021.“We saw Andy Street like this looks like when someone who hasn't run for office before comes from a pragmatic, open-minded, positive mindset about issues, they can succeed in both politics and governance. And this is exactly the form in which I am trying to form my ticket,” he said.
While praising Mr. Street as a “pragmatic centrist,” Mr. Korsky said he was also influenced by his time in the Number 10 Policy Division under Mr. Cameron between 2013 and 2016.
I don't look like a traditional conservative.
Maybe I don't even look like a traditional conservative.
I look like what I am, digital native, entrepreneur, immigrant – Londoner of the 21st century.
A conservative who can win in London.#korski4London pic.twitter.com/hQR6tL73yZ
— Daniel Korski (@DanielKorski) June 16, 2023
“No one is trying to go back in time,” he said. “Cameronism was of its time, and I am very proud to have been involved in the legalization of same-sex marriage, trying to balance the books, the huge pro-entrepreneurial agenda that we have created in this country and in this city. financial crisis.”
He also said that he shared “the former Prime Minister's deep respect for the institutions of this society.”
He continued: “I don't think people are trying to go back to the Cameron era. But I do think some of the things we've done well, people in 2023 are thinking, “Hey, we could use some of that.”
“If you mix Andy Street who I see myself more – pragmatic, businesslike, entrepreneurial – add some Cameroonian optimism and civil service, I think it's a very winning proposition in London.”
While Mr Korski campaigned for retention in the 2016 EU referendum, he pointed out that in addition to supporting centrist MPs such as former Justice Minister Sir Robert Buckland – the latest MP to back him – he also received Brexit support. support from the right, such as Jonathan Gullis MP for Stoke-on-Trent North. He said his “greatest mentor” was the Thatcher-era minister, Lord Young of Graffham.
Mr Korski proposed a number of attractive policies, such as turning off red lights at night and giving every pensioner in London free security alarm.
In an interview with The Telegraph last week, Ms. Hall appeared to be critical of his platform, warning against the “Earth promise” and saying it would focus on “the right basics” rather than “fancy ideas.”
“I suggest something different”
In what will be seen as a response to Ms. Hall, Mr. Korsky defended the spread of such ideas. “No one is going to buy a great house because they know the foundation is solid,” he said. “You want the foundation to be solid, but that's not what you're looking at in Rightmove. What people like to do, because I think it's human, is to dream and hope.”
According to an internal poll last year about how the Tories can stand up to Mr Khan, the Tories had a base of about 24 percent in London, but could increase that to 53 percent with the right candidate. The poll also showed that a candidate with business experience was most popular with those who were going to vote Conservative.
Mr Korski said it showed the party needed to reach out to other voters. “Our base is collapsing,” he said.
“Even if you pull out the base, you just won't win, it won't happen. You need a broader proposal and a broader coalition.”
“If you want to be tickled in the stomach and lose, people can go ahead,” he said. “If people want a ChatGPT candidate who just lays out the basics, there are other candidates. I suggest something else.”
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