Nigel Farage backed as best MP to lead Tories after candidates accused of 'lacking aspiration'

Nigel Farage backed as best MP to lead Tories after candidates accused of 'lacking aspiration'

WATCH NOW: GB News panel react to Conservative leadership hopefuls after launching campaigns

GB News
Georgia Pearce

By Georgia Pearce


Published: 03/09/2024

- 14:08

Leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat outlined his plan to restore 'happiness and prosperity' as he launched his bid today

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been backed as the best person to lead the Conservatives, as Tory leadership hopefuls begin to set out their plans for the party.

Among the candidates who are hoping to succeed former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, party favourite Kemi Badenoch has taken aim at "clueless and irresponsible" Labour, whilst Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly has pledged to "restore Rwanda" after it was scrapped by Starmer.


Speaking to Tory supporters today, hopeful Tom Tugendhat outlined his vision for a "happy and prosperous" Britain, declaring that the party "owed voters better".

Discussing the candidates on GB News, political commentator Piers Pottinger accused those standing of lacking "aspiration" and that "none of them have their fingers on the pulse".

Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage, Tom Tugendhat

Conservative leadership hopefuls Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat have launched their campaigns

PA

Pottinger said of the Conservative leadership contest: "Tom is sound on defence, and as an ex-soldier he would be. And I agree with everything he said in his speech.

"But any leader has got to capture the aspirations of the people. None of these candidates, in my view, have got their finger on the pulse and are going to say the right sort of thing."

Offering his verdict on who he believes does instil the Conservatives values needed to lead the party, Pottinger admitted: "The person who is cleverest at recognising the aspirations is actually Nigel Farage.

"And the more you see these candidates, the more you think what a difference it would be if Nigel was running the Conservative Party."

Tom Tugendhat

Tom Tugendhat said his mission is to restore 'happiness' in Britain as he delivered his speech in London

PA

Reacting to Pottinger's remarks, host Andrew Pierce argued that Farage leading the Conservatives would "definitely worry Labour".

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Agreeing with Andrew, political commentator Nigel Nelson told GB News: "Yes it would worry them. If Nigel were running the Conservative Party, that would be a whole different ball game.

"One thing about Nigel, I don't agree with his party or pretty much anything he says, but I do recognise he's probably the foremost politician of our generation."

Offering further praise of the Reform UK leader, Nelson added: "Certainly history will judge him as achieving more than pretty much anyone else when it comes to Brexit.

"So I think he's a skilful politician. He would be very difficult for Labour. And what you'd also have is the clear blue water that everyone's moaning about."

Piers Pottinger

Pottinger claimed that Tory supporters 'want Nigel Farage' to lead the party

GB News

Elaborating on the "key pillars" of the Reform UK party, Pottinger highlighted that many of their policies are "old Conservative policies" and are the "lynchpin" of what Tory voters would support.

Pottinger said: "If you look at the main planks of the Reform Party, their main policies, which they have mentioned all the way through the election and before it, they're all old Conservative policies, and they are the lynchpins of what people want to vote for in the Conservatives.

"I'm convinced of that, and why we sadly don't have Nigel running the Conservative Party, I don't know. It would be certainly the most effective thing. So sorry, Mr. Tugendhat. We want Nigel!"

Weighing in on whether Nigel Farage should lead the Conservatives, host Nana Akua concluded: "I think the Tory brand is too toxic, they've been fighting and fighting and everything else like that. I don't think anyone will tolerate that. And I don't think Nigel will want to do that."

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