James Cleverly has been blasted for his "nonsense" approach to the Conservative Party after officially launching his leadership bid.
In a video posted to social media, the former Home Secretary has claimed he can "unite the Conservative Party and overturn Starmer’s loveless landslide" and "restore the confidence of the British people".
In his video announcement, Cleverly said: "We must ditch the self-indulgent infighting and be ready to deliver when the next chance comes. This will take dedication, discipline and focus."
Reacting to the announcement on GB News, commentator Mike Parry claimed Cleverly's plans for the party are "total cobblers" and in his view is now "out of the running" for Tory leader.
Mike Parry hit out at James Cleverly after announcing he will be running in the Tory leadership election
GB News / PA
Parry told GB News: "James Cleverly is out of the running for me from this one expression - 'we need a broad appeal' to win the voters back.
"You don't need broad appeal, you need small c conservative policies like Thatcher brought us over a period of years, and gradually work them in."
Slamming the "nonsense" from Cleverly about the Conservatives, Parry shut down the idea of being "one nation Tories" and the view that the party can "only win an election if you win it from the middle".
The former Home Secretary has announced he is running in the Tory leadership race
PA
Parry fumed: "I don't agree at all - the reason the Tories have been shambolic for the last two or three times they've been in power is because they haven't had any policies.
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"David Cameron started it, he moved towards Liberal Democrats and embraced them, and it's been a shambles ever since."
Former Conservative MP and GB News guest host Miriam Cates then argued that the Conservatives "say they want unity but have no idea what to unify around".
When asked by Cates if the Tories "need some philosophies before they have a leader", Parry hit back, responding: "What we need is we need some small C conservative policies.
"Lower taxes, smaller Government, self-reliance. Why do you think the red wall was the red wall? Because they're the qualities the people of the north of England embraced and thought, we get them here."
Mike Parry said the Conservative Party cannot be a 'broad church' if it wishes to regain power
GB News
Parry continued: "But every time I hear a politician going right back to James Callaghan saying the party's a broad church, what you mean is it's got a load of differing views, and you're not strong enough to isolate the ones that are going to win an election."
Former Labour MP Stephen Pound offered his view on Parry's remarks, adding: "Harold Wilson used to say it's a broad church, but it's full of knaves, and it has no religion, as Robert Jenrick has said."
