A former Conservative MP has hit out at former colleagues who are potential leaders of the party, describing them as “wet”, “damned rude” and “a stooge”.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns said she was supporting Suella Braverman or Priti Patel to be the next leader, saying the party needed “red meat policies”.
He told GB News: “Having worked with [Kemi Badenoch] for several years in Parliament, I'm not her biggest fan. I think she's very bright, without doubt, she's a nice enough person. But what you see isn't what you get, actually.
“Look at her voting record, she is just a party stooge. She voted for all Theresa May's deals. She voted for more Net Zero. Look how she behaved with Boris, immaturely in those text messages, trying to get people to resign.
“And also don't forget, on the European scrutiny committee where the great Sir Bill Cash chaired in the last parliament, where she actually spoke to him in such a disrespectful way, schooling him.
“One more thing which is concerning me, to think that Kemi was a London Assembly Member. Why is there nothing online? Why does her internet history seem to have been wiped prior to Brexit? That's what I'd like to know.
“On the woke stuff, she's very good,..but on the other stuff, she'll just do whatever Gove or anybody else says.
“I think we'd be better going in the direction of Priti or Suella. They're both Spartans like myself, and they're both fighters, and they're both Thatcherite Conservatives.
“I think what we've seen over the last 18 months really is that we need some red meat policies. Look how people went to Reform.
“I put the vote of confidence in to Rishi Sunak, and I don't think the party had learned its lesson, and it's about time they learned the lessons and listen to members.
“Tom [Tugendhat] is great, but again, he is a one nation Tory. I certainly don't want Victoria Atkins. I don't like her whatsoever, I've got to be honest, I've made that known over the years…she's just so damned rude, I’m afraid.
“She speaks down to people. She's on her high horse all the time, and that just drives me mad, in all honesty. I want somebody who's authentic.
“Now, my advice to Suella, for what it's worth. I like Suella, and I really like Priti. She's got to remember the numbers.
“Look at the makeup of the party. The MPs who are left, it's mainly three quarters or more who are the one nation Conservative. She has got to reel it back if she's wanting to get their votes to get into the final.
“Suella and I got elected at the same time and I know her very well, and like myself, she's always believed Conservative Party leaders come and go, but ultimately, we're Conservatives.
“We've got to get our act together, without a doubt. And I think that we're going to have a bit more turbulence the next few weeks, while we're fighting for the heart of the party from the one nation group to the Thatcherite group.
“We're fighting for the heart of conservatism, but then we've really got to get our act together and be a strong opposition so we can come back fighting in the next General Election.
“I think [Kemi’s] sort of been groomed, if that's the right word, to be the replacement for a while. There was even a whipping operation, which I wasn't involved in, but I was on the periphery, to try and get Rishi out, and I know that some of the people were key allies of Kemi.
“This has been brewing for a long time, but I will certainly, even though I'm no longer an MP, try and stop that.”
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