Ben Houchen: Tories vying to replace Sunak are counting on my support

Ben Houchen's fate in May's mayoral election will show how Rishi Sunak is able to cling to his position in the Red Wall Photo: Mark Pinder

Ben Houchen, the Conservative mayor of Tees Valley, said Conservative Party leadership candidates vying to replace Rishi Sunak are vying for his support ahead of the general election.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Lord Houchen said he was with him contacted prominent Conservatives and asked what direction he thought the party should move in an apparent attempt to lay the groundwork for a future leadership contest.

But he urged «pathetic» MPs «on the move» to focus on rallying around the Prime Minister, warning their behavior was «damaging the Conservative Party.»

He said ousting Mr Sunak before the next election It would be a «disaster» to tell Tory conspirators they will be responsible for the party's demise if they force another leadership change.

Lord Houchen's fate in the May 2 mayoral election will be the first indication of Mr Sunak's ability hold on to the Red Wall.

Having won a landslide victory in Tees Valley with 73 per cent of the vote in 2021, the mayor is seen as a major Tory asset in the North, but he could face a stunning defeat after a poll last month showed him trailing his Labor rival Chris McEwan by 25 points.

Speaking to The Telegraph in Yarm, near Darlington, Lord Houchen, who was among the peers on Boris Johnson's retirement honors list, called the poll results «nonsense» but admitted the Tories' fortunes looked bleak nationally.

But he urged those plotting against Mr Sunak to focus on the task at hand, saying: «I think those people who are involved in the maneuvers are potentially interested in becoming the next leader of the Conservative Party — they need to stop that , what are they doing. .

“They do all this, and it’s unpleasant to see. Many of them have contacted me and it is this kind of behavior that is costing the Conservative Party dearly.»

He declined to name names but spoke about the messages he had received, adding: «People don't come out and say, 'I'm going to stand for leadership position, I need your support.»

< p>«It's all, 'Hey Ben, we haven't caught up lately on how things are going, we'd really like some help, we need to catch up soon, how do you think things will go in the general election?' ?»

«And then there's something like, 'Oh, well, you know, if things don't go very well, have you thought about what direction the party should go in?' , and I really want to help,” and all that.

“It gives them plausible deniability where they can say, 'Oh well, I didn't campaign,' when everyone knows exactly what they're doing and it's not subtle. It's a bit of a shame.» Lord Houchen said Mr Sunak should have led the Tories at the next election, but added the Prime Minister «needs more time» for his plan to «take hold». and suggested that he wait until October or November to announce the vote.

Asked what would happen if there was a general election tomorrow, he said: “You know the polls as well as I do, right? We have to give people a reason to vote for us. We haven't done enough to do that yet.

“There's still a lot of time, but we still have a lot more compelling results to make. And we have to give people the reason to vote for us that they're looking for, but I don't think we're at a point where we've given them that reason yet.»

He warned Tory plotters that bringing down Mr Sunak before the election would be an “utter disaster”, saying: “I think this is just the final nail in the coffin because people will turn completely against the Conservative Party. We won't be seen as a serious party at the next general election.

“And so if those people who are considering this possibility really think they want to put this into action, then they will be responsible for the Conservative Party. The party loses the next general election.»

He said he was “irritated” by “stupid conspiracies”, adding: “Changing the Prime Minister again for what will be — what, the fourth or fifth time in two years? “You will be destroyed at the polls if people think this is the right result.” Lord Household stood by his claim that the Tories were wrong to unseat Johnson in 2021, but would not speculate on the possible outcome . return of the former prime minister.

However, he said he believed Mr Sunak should follow the spirit of Mr Johnson — and Lord Cameron, Sir Tony Blair and Sir Keir Starmer — when it comes to courting the central electorate because that is where «elections are won «.

Although he argued that the Red Wall would be «hugely important» in the election, he said it would be wrong to suggest the Conservatives would have to choose between «Sevenoaks or Redcar» when they stand in front of the public.

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“General elections are always won in the center of the field. Look what Keir Starmer is trying to do, look what Tony Blair has done, look what David Cameron has done, look what Boris has done,” he said.

“That’s where I think ultimately elections will be won and lost. And you can do this by reaching out to people who live in north-west Hampshire and people who live in Teesside.»

The Tories' defeat in Teesside will be seen by many as a sign that Mr Sunak has lost control of the situation. on the Red Wall, Labour's traditional heartland which has fallen to the Conservatives in recent years.

The Prime Minister has a lot to answer for, and Sir Graham Brady, the committee chairman, may find more letters from frustrated Tory MPs on his doorstep.

But Lord Houchen was reluctant to draw parallels between May's mayoral election and the general election, saying he had «always» positioned himself as a mayor and a Conservative first. second.

“My voice is much broader and more eclectic than the Conservative Party's in the general election,” he added. “There is a significant portion of voters who would not vote for the Conservatives, but they would vote for me. That's why it's ultimately a local election.

“It depends on the outcome, right? If I lose by 20 points, then you can probably make a pretty strong guess because locally I'm more popular than the Conservative Party, so you can probably get a draw.

“Then whereas if I just win, I don't know, with one vote or a couple of percent, it will be very difficult for me to succeed because of the way local votes are distributed.»

When asked by The Telegraph what they think of Lord Houchen, shoppers in Darlington town center have given mixed reviews.

Claire, a 70-year-old woman who has traditionally voted Labor or Lib Dem, said she believed he had made a name for himself but «the jury is out».

But Roy, 77, , who backed Lord Houchen last time, said he couldn't bring himself to do it again, adding: «I have a feeling he won't get it this time. It looks like Labor is running the show.»

Reflecting on his future, Lord Houchen said he thought it was unlikely he would ever stand for parliament and he certainly didn't want to speculate on whether he would make a good Tory leader.

“I don't want to, whether I'm mayor or not, ever leave Teesside. This is my home, this is my life, and this is what I want to do,” he said.

At this point, he said he's only thinking three weeks ahead. “My life ends on May 2,” he added. “This is an obstacle, right?”