The interim chair of the Conservative Party will tell the membership that he is “profoundly sorry” for the election loss as he opens the party’s conference on Sunday.
Richard Fuller will tell delegates in Birmingham that the parliamentary party “needs to learn and has to change”, and is also expected to announce details of a review into the general election
The first conference since the election defeat in July will see the contest for the party leadership feature prominently.
Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat will all have an opportunity to address the conference – which will run until Wednesday – and their campaigns will be lobbying MPs before parliamentarians pick the final two on October 10.
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The final result will be declared on November 2.
Mr Fuller is expected to say: “I am profoundly sorry to you, the members of the Conservative Party.
“To our activists. To our current and former councillors, police and crime commissioners and mayors who found their strong local records of service were dominated by negative national headlines.
“To Conservative voters and to the country at large for the consequence: a reckless, ideological socialist government with a huge majority based on a paltry share of the electorate.
“I am deeply sorry.”
As well as pledging that the parliamentary party “will change”, Mr Fuller is also expected to touch on the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK, who both took seats from the Tories at the general election.
“The Liberal Democrats have already said they will cosy up to Labour whenever they can,” he will say.
“And what of Reform? Well, we gave them oxygen. We gave them space. We will take both back.”
Party leader Rishi Sunak and all four candidates vying to be his successor all arrived in Birmingham on Saturday ahead of the conference starting.