Our reputation on most values and policies has slid away. Too many people now believe that the Labour are fit to govern. This is a wake up and smell coffee moment, he warns.
Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid launched his leadership bid in central London as the Conservative party prods on holding it’s leadership contest. The sleaze and scandal in 10 Downing Street has damaged public perception of politics, he says. We need to face outwards, not inwards. All candidates will make their case, he says as he supports a TV debate among candidates.
“My advice, my plea is for months members of the public have been watching behaviours in Downing street. And they are dismayed. They need to see that we are focusing on issues that really matter”, he adds.
Too Many People Support Labour : Sajid Javid
As he launches his leadership bid, Sajid Javid also warns the Tories to “wake up and smell the coffee”. Over the last few years our reputation on most values and policies has slid away. Too many people now believe that the Labour party are fit to govern. Some say that the Labour are more competent and even more likely to cut taxes. This isn’t because they are putting their faith in Labour, the truth is they’ve lost faith in us, he says.
Javid also warns that today’s situation feels more similar to the Tory party’s defeat in 1997. The party’s defeat in 1997 led to Tony Blair’s prime ministership. “ The way things were going recently I feared our party was on a trajectory to the same electoral oblivion once again.” The Conservative party should not be complacent “about the situation we are now in”, he warns.
The British people are looking for a competent leader. And the public will tell the Conservatives what it thinks through the powerful language of the vote, he says.
Javid Slams Poisonous Tory Political Culture
I’m sorry to say that looking at some of the stories from the weekend press it hasn’t been a good start. Poisonous gossip and attack memos are being thrown around. Some people say you have to play the game, I refuse to accept that. This is not the House of Cards, or the Game of Thrones. And the people who are here just because they enjoy the game they are in the wrong place. This is a time of pulling together, not pulling apart, says Javid as he launches his bid to leadership.
Like other contenders Sajid Javid too has argued for tax cuts. He has suggested a 10 percent cut in fuel duty, a 1 percent cut in income tax and gradual reduction of corporate tax. “ I think you must start with tax cuts to kick start growth,” he says. Nadhim Rezawi and other contenders too have argued for similar policies, yet differ in pace. While Javid wants a gradual cut, Rezawi wants a 20 percent cut in government costs. Jeremy Hunt , on the other hand, argues to reduce corporation tax to 15 percent. Penny Mordaunt too wishes to cut VAT from 20 percent to 10 percent.
UK is currently on the brink of an economic recession with skyrocketing fuel prices and rise in costs of living. Monetarist policies like giving tax cuts to corporations may promote investment and growth. However, opponents to the left argue where will the Conservatives get surplus money if not from taxes. The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calls Tory tax cuts “magic money tree” cuts from the moon.
(Inputs, BBC)
