Labour dossier reveals Tory government is the “most divided Government ever”

Ahead of this year’s Conservative Party Conference, Labour has published a dossier revealing this Tory government to be the “most divided government ever”: 

• ·       The Conservative Party is divided in Parliament – a third of Conservative MPs, over 100 Members of Parliament, have publicly criticised either a colleague or Tory policy in the last 12 months. Incredibly, 80 per cent of these attacks have been specifically directed at Theresa May or her Government. 83 MPs have voiced concern about the Prime Minister and her agenda, well over the threshold of 48 needed to trigger a Tory leadership contest.  

• ·       The Conservative Party is divided right across the country - the Conservative MPs that appear in the dossier represent constituencies from every region – from Scotland to the South West, and from Wales to the West Midlands.

• ·       The Conservative Party is divided at every level of Government - from the Cabinet through to local councils.

Labour’s new document reveals the true breadth and depth of the divisions within the Tory party. More interested in arguing with themselves than negotiating a good Brexit deal or solving the problems facing the country, it’s clear that the Tories cannot deliver the future we need.

While the Tories’ approach to Brexit is putting the economy and jobs at risk, living standards continue fall, working people are worse off, and our public services are being pushed further and further into crisis.  

Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, said:

“Riven by backbiting and plotting, this Tory government is the most divided Government ever.

“At a time when the country is in the midst of the most important negotiations in recent history, the Tories’ endless infighting and political posturing poses a very real danger to Britain’s future and to communities across the country. They are incapable of delivering a Brexit that protects jobs and the economy, and are incapable of delivering for workers.

“British people deserve better. Only Labour stands ready to take charge, and start the work of rebuilding and transforming our country, for the many not the few.”

Notes to editors

 A copy of Labour's document – Government Divisions Document’ - is attached to this press release.

• ·       The Conservative MPs that appear in the dossier represent constituencies from every region across the UK - the East, the East Midlands, London, the North East, the North West, Scotland, the South East, the South West, Wales, the West Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber.  

Parliament: MPs, Retrieved 26 September 2018, https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

• ·       106 Conservative MPs are included in the dossier, 83 of which attack Theresa May or her Government.

• ·       In the last 24 hours more MPs, including Cabinet Ministers, have come out against the Theresa May and her Government:

• ·       David Lidington refused to back Theresa May when asked if he want her to remain as Prime Minister.

‘She will decide, in due course, what she wants to do. But now, she is focusing on the task in hand.’ 

Spectator, 29 September 2018, https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/09/the-minister-for-spinning-plates-david-lidington-interview/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Lunchtime_Espresso_27092018&utm_campaign=Lunchtime_Espresso

• ·       Amber Rudd said that a ‘peoples vote’ is “absolutely” preferable to a no deal. Rudd also claimed that “about 40” Conservative MPs would not support a Canada-type deal.

“Is it [a people’s vote] preferable to a no deal? Absolutely…I think there are a number of people, in fact I've talked to a few colleagues and I reckon there are conservatively about 40 of us who would not support a Canada-type deal."

The Mirror, 27 September 2018, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/amber-rudd-says-brexit-peoples-13318458

• ·       Sam Gyimah argued that the Conservative Party was guilty of “talking business down” and “ignoring voters’ concerns”, which was evidence that the Party has ‘lost its way’.

“When we Conservatives veer between talking business down, ignoring voters’ concerns, and telling businesses to shut up – or worse – it is a clear sign we have lost our way.”

Politics Home, 27 September 2018, https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/house/house-magazine/98586/sam-gyimah-when-we

• ·       Penny Mordaunt, Secretary of State for International Development, is reportedly refusing to back Theresa May’s Chequer’s proposals.

The Sun, 27 September 2018, https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7358495/penny-mordaunt-blanks-chequers-plan/

• ·       Priti Patel has accused Theresa May of leading a “nanny-state” government which has ‘infected’ the current policies of the Conservative Party.

"It’s time to reject the nanny-state big government creep that has infected this government and once again embrace our true Conservative values to inspire Britain and deliver a prosperous future."

Politics Home, 27 September 2018, https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/theresa-may/news/98622/excl-former-cabinet-minister

• ·       Andy Street, Conservative Mayor for the West Midlands, has argued that cuts to local government and policing “have gone far enough”, saying that it was “not reasonable” for central government to allow this to continue.

“I do also think it is right to say that the cuts have gone far enough…It’s not reasonable to expect that this continues.”

Birmingham Mail, 27 September 2018,

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/news-opinion/conservative-mayor-andy-street-tells-15202317?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=0e3ce4bb6e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_09_27_05_21&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-0e3ce4bb6e-190351697

• ·       Whilst setting out his plan for Brexit, Boris Johnson criticised Theresa May and her Government for “being in the grip of a fatal uncertainty” when it came to negotiating with the EU.

The Telegraph, 27 September 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/09/27/boris-johnson-plan-better-brexit/