SPECULATION about changing the leader of the Conservatives has been damaging to the party at the ballot box, according to former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland.
He told Camilla Tominey on GB News: “I think that the time that we're talking about personalities and the party talking to itself is well over. That's why the British public are putting their fingers in their ears…
“The more that we talk about factions and ideology and the less we focus on business, on growth, on jobs, on housing, all those issues that actually people are talking about…then I think we've become an irrelevant rump.
“The Conservative party wins elections, not by being soft and mushy but by reflecting the views of the British public, by being in alliance with them.
“The coalition that we need is with the British people. We've been the party of the nation for generations. I believe we can get back to that, but we need to focus on what people are talking about.”
On the public’s concern about immigration, Sir Robert added: “I think that now that the legislation is through, I think that we've got to make sure the Rwanda plan works, but it's been more than that.
“I was concerned about the law and making sure that the law was less fragile, so we didn't end up with all the legal challenges we've had in the past. But I've always said as well as part of a multifaceted approach.
“Look what's happening now, with Ireland. It’s very interesting, the Irish government is saying what they're saying.
“I think we need to be robust on that and say, okay, you're sharing the challenge that we've got, let's all work together and let's see countries like France actually have a proper returns policy as well, because these are all safe countries.”
