Priti Patel takes swipe at Tory MPs who asked her for help getting new jobs

30 July 2023 , 10:25

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Priti Patel lashed out at her Tory colleagues before saying the party needs more unity

Tory heavyweight Dame Priti Patel has taken a swipe at Tory colleagues who she claims have asked for her help getting a new job if they lose their seats.

The former Home Secretary said she had been approached by "many" MPs asking for her assistance if they're booted out by voters. But in a tirade against careerists in Parliament, Dame Priti said she thought this was "wrong".

In a TV interview on GB News, the former Cabinet member also hit out at Tory HQ, claiming there was "too much centralisation" in choosing candidates. Dame Priti, who lost her seat at the top table when Boris Johnson was forced out, said: "I can tell you now I was approached last year by many Conservative MPs that basically said 'If I lose my seat can you help me get a job.

"'You've had a career outside of politics'. And I think that's wrong, I've told them this by the way."

Latest polling puts the Tories on course for an election mauling, with Ipsos saying 47% of the public would cast their vote for Labour, and just 25% for the Conservatives.

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Dame Priti refused to be drawn on her party's chances at the next General Election, but said grassroots members should have a greater say in selecting members. Last year members overwhelmingly backed disaster PM Liz Truss in the leadership contest against Rishi Sunak.

Voicing her concerns about "too much centralisation", she appeared to suggest that Conservative HQ is out of tune with members. "They (the grassroots) want to hear people that are authentic, that care about public service and stand up for their country, and not people that want to use politics or being an MP as a stepping stone to another career."

And Dame Priti stated: "I believe that politics is about public service and putting people first and putting your country first as well. I want to see more Conservatives who are passionate about that come forward."

Asked if the Tories have any chance of clawing their way back, she said: "We've got to come together, be united and actually stand up for core conservative values and beliefs and put the public at the heart of all of that. We need to be on their side, and the challenge that we have is that we've been in office for 13 years and the public are going to start to feel slightly 'well you've had your chance why didn't you do this then?'"

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Dave Burke