Robert Jenrick has opened up about the “hard truths” facing the UK as he calls for an end to mass migration.
The Newark MP, who resigned from as Rishi Sunak’s Immigration Minister over the Rwanda scheme, this morning released the policy-led video filmed on Sedley Beacon.
Jenrick highlighted Conservative achievements but also warned about major problems which contributed to Labour’s landslide victory on July 4.
He said: “Over the past few decades, a series of complex and interlocking challenges have steadily built up here and across the West.
Robert Jenrick opens up on ‘hard truths’ facing UK as he calls for end to mass migration
ROBERT JENRICK
“Our economy has been growing too slowly and as growth has fallen, taxes have risen. But despite having more of our money than ever, too much of the state is not working.
“Our NHS has a fifth more money, doctors, and nurses than it did five years ago. But isn’t treating any more people.
“The hard truth is that we lost this election because we failed to tackle these challenges.
“The even harder truth is that the severity of these challenges now threatens our future.”
Jenrick, who spoke directly about his birthplace Wolverhampton, added: “When I was minister for immigration, I saw dangerous people coming into our country.
“I saw us unable to deport them. I saw hundreds of thousands of people we frankly didn’t need, coming in legally.
“But our politics was unable or unwilling to deliver what was needed. The new Government aren’t going to fix things. They have too many delusions.
“Our party is our country’s best hope. But we have a mountain to climb and real choices to make. We won’t regain people’s trust with platitudes.”
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Migrants crossing the Channel (file pic)PAThe 42-year-old, who is 7/2 to become Tory leader, voiced support for deporting illegal immigrants “within days” and “ending” mass migration.
Jenrick also pushed for building more homes, constructing more prisons, investing more in the armed forces and producing cheap energy.
Tory leadership hopefuls have been trying to position themselves as unifiers after the Conservative Party suffered its worst defeat since 1906.
Jenrick’s video tapped into the same theme but also directly addressed a specific issue which caused havoc for Conservative candidates on July 4.
As the clip from Sedgley Beacon begins to cut away, an ex-Tory voter who backed Reform UK last time approaches Jenrick.
“You’ve got a good chance,” the West Midlands voter said.
Jenrick became the third Tory leadership hopeful to officially enter the race, joining ex-Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
Kemi Badenoch, Priti Patel and Mel Stride also entered the contest following Jenrick’s announcement, with ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman pulling out of the race.
Braverman’s decision to pull out also discussed the need to address hard truths head-on.
However, seemingly conceding defeat, Braverman opted not to stand.
Writing for The Telegraph, the Fareham & Waterlooville MP said: “It’s not comfortable accepting these truths.
“I’ve tried to set them out and been vilified by some colleagues. But it is what it is.
“Anyone who leads our party needs to accept them or else prepare for a decade in the wilderness.”
Jenrick has received public support from five MPs, including Danny Kruger from New Conservatives and Sir John Hayes from the Common Sense Group.
An ex-Tory voter who backed Reform UK last time approaches Jenrick
ROBERT JENRICK
Leadership hopefuls will look to win over support from MPs and members throughout the summer recess.
MPs will begin voting to narrow down the field with a series of votes from September 4.
Four frontrunners will speak directly to grassroots Tories at the Conservative Party Conference between September 29 and October 2.
The result of the contest will be declared much later on November 2.
Bob Blackman, who chairs the 1922 Committee, is hoping to dissuade contenders from “backbiting” through a “yellow card” system.
“If a yellow card is issued and a statement made to the public and to the members, that a candidate has infringed on the rules, that will be extremely detrimental to their chances of getting elected,” Blackman said.