Stratford MP says Prime Minster must listen to her party - The Stratford Observer

Stratford MP says Prime Minster must listen to her party

Stratford Editorial 14th Jun, 2017 Updated: 14th Jun, 2017   0

PRIME Minister Teresa May must listen to her party say Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi.

Political commentators might have hailed the General Election as the most extraordinary in British history – but it was business as usual for the Stratford and Kenilworth & Southam seats, as Nadhim Zahawi and Jeremy Wright comfortably regained their seats, albeit with slightly reduced majorities, on a night which, despite winning, was not one to smile about for the Tories.

Mrs May called the snap election in the hope of increasing the Tory majority and strengthening her hand ahead of the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

But the move backfired and the Prime Minister has reportedly promised to get the Tories ‘out of the mess she created’.




Mr Zahawi said it was vital Mrs May now listened carefully to her party, with even former Tory chancellor turned newspaper editor George Osborne calling her a “dead woman walking”.

Mr Zahawi was at a meeting of the influential 1922 committee where Mrs May met MPs on Monday.


Speaking to The Observer afterwards, he said: “The Prime Minister showed great contrition for our disappointing election result, the loss of many outstanding Conservative colleagues in Parliament, and the mishandling of many aspects of our manifesto – most notably the proposals for social care.

“She made it very clear that she is prepared to change her leadership style and take more advice on board from across the party going forward.

“But she was also praised strongly for increasing our share of the vote by 5.5 per cent since the 2015 election and for winning seats from Labour like Mansfield and Middlesbrough South, receiving three standing ovations at various points throughout the meeting.

“It was clear from the responses given to the Prime Minister that there is a strong and unanimous appetite among Conservatives MPs to unite around her so that we can move forward, get on with the job of government, and make a success of Brexit.”

Mr Wright remembered those who had lost their lives in the terror attacks after he regained the Kenilworth & Southam seat.

In his speech after the result was announced, Mr Wright referred to the recent terror attacks which took place in Manchester and London during the campaign.

Mr Wright said: “This has been an unusual campaign for all sorts of reasons and we remember those citizens who have lost a lot more than an election during this campaign. In the terrible attacks in Manchester and London a great deal has been lost.

“But those who perpetrated those attacks thought they could destroy the freedoms we hold dear in our society, and one of those is the right to hold free and democratic elections. By holding such an election we have shown they have failed.”

There was drama in the neighbouring Warwick & Leamington seat where Labour candidate Matt Western overturned Conservative Chris White’s 6,000 majority. Mr Western took the seat by 1,200 votes.

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