Former Michael Gove adviser Charlie Rowley has taken aim at senior Tories like Suella Braverman after a bruising night for the party which he believes was of its own doing.
The General Election delivered a crushing defeat for the party who have been in power for 14 years.
Speaking on GB News, Rowley said divisions that have emerged in recent years are to blame and bemoaned the departure of Boris Johnson.
“I’m incredibly disappointed. It’s been a very difficult night”, he said.
Rowley hit out at Braverman
POOL / GB NEWS
“There were some very, very good people that have lost their jobs. Why it’s so frustrating is that is didn’t have to be this way.
“They didn’t have to have an election on July 4. There could have been more good news to build up to a campaign.
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“A gamble gate during the campaign didn’t have to happen if people around Rishi Sunak actually took some responsibility. If Suella Braverman spent more time focusing on the issues at hand, rather than mounting her own leadership campaign against her own party, we might not be in the situation we are in.
“If Downing Street didn’t party during lockdown, we might still have had Boris Johnson as prime minister.
“If we didn’t have people that could not wake up in the morning and just do their job and be a team player as well as recognising the difficult decisions the party has had to make in 14 years, we might not be where we are today.
“I’m incredibly frustrated and upset. It’s a tough night.”
Rishi Sunak delivered a speech outside Downing Street
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Sunak delivered a sombre speech outside Downing Street where he confirmed he will be stepping down as Conservative Party leader.
He apologised to Conservative candidates and campaigners, saying: “I’m sorry that we could not deliver what your efforts deserved.
“It pains me to think how many good colleagues who contributed so much to their communities and our country will now no longer sit in the House of Commons.
“I thank them for their hard work and their service.”
Charlie Rowley discussed Labour's victory on GB News
GB NEWS
He said he had “given this job my all” but voters had sent a “clear message.”
The Prime Minister said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, shortly before his speech outside Number 10, he said: “I have given this job my all. But you have sent a clear message, and yours is the only judgement that matters.
“This is a difficult day, but I leave this job honoured to have been Prime Minister of the best country in the world.”
