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Make Duncan Smith interim Tory leader, urges peer
Lord Bamford warns against ‘immediate rush’ to replace Rishi Sunak, suggesting former leader as interim choice
![Sir Iain Duncan Smith](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/politics/2024/07/11/TELEMMGLPICT000371747024_17207148276230_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqe8exRwkrG0gUQzS_A7vs-P4Xpit_DMGvdp2n7FDd82k.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Sir Iain Duncan Smith should return to lead the Conservative Party while a replacement for Rishi Sunak is found, Lord Bamford has said.
The peer warned against an “immediate rush” to replace Mr Sunak, suggesting Sir Iain, who led the Tories between 2001 and 2003, as a potential interim.
Lord Bamford, the billionaire owner of JCB, donated almost £4 million to the Conservatives before the 2019 general election, but has not given the party any cash in four years.
Sir Iain survived the Labour landslide at last week’s general election to retain his Chingford and Woodford Green seat in north-east London.
In a letter to The Telegraph, Lord Bamford wrote: “A former party leader, a highly-regarded MP with a track record of getting things done, Sir Iain could whip the party into shape in time for someone else to lead it into the next election.
“Will Conservative MPs see sense and go for someone with experience, political stature and gravitas for this critical rebuilding phase?”
Sir Iain has been vocal about traditional Tory voters becoming disenchanted with the party, saying they had good reason to be “angry, annoyed and fed up” over legal and illegal immigration, as well as a record post-war tax burden.
He previously told The Telegraph that he backed a longer leadership campaign in order to give the Tories time to understand the reasons for their historic defeat and to “get the party in a position where they come together”.
“I would prefer that Rishi Sunak would stick around … he should stick around, because he owes the party to take the fight to Labour. He may not want to do it but I hope he will stay until that time, which will be the end of autumn,” he added.
Mr Sunak has said he will leave his role as Tory leader as soon as the arrangements to choose his successor are put in place.
Mel Stride is also being urged by some Tory MPs to stand in the contest to replace Mr Sunak. The shadow work and pensions secretary, who led the ex-prime minister’s welfare reforms, held his Central Devon seat last week.
The 62-year-old played a central role in the Tory election campaign and was deployed to front media appearances at times of crisis. He also represented the Conservatives on more morning rounds of broadcast interviews than any of his then-Cabinet colleagues.
Three MPs told The Telegraph they would be keen to see Mr Stride either succeed Mr Sunak permanently or serve as an interim leader if the party required one.
One former minister said they were a “huge fan of Mel” and would be “quite keen to support him” if he decided to run. “You need good technical skills in rebuilding a damaged and demoralised central office,” they said.
“Having built up and run very successful businesses, Mel gets that type of thing very well. You’ve also got to be good at setting up a communications strategy – again, Mel gets that.”
They said Mr Stride was “very well-liked among the party”, adding: “Of course his politics aren’t going to appeal to everybody, but he’s not going to be disliked by people who don’t share his politics. He has that ability to get on with and listen to people. I would be delighted if he was to put his name forward.”
A veteran Tory MP said: “I get on very well with Mel. I would see him as a safe pair of hands were we to require one – he would make a very good interim leader.”
A third backbencher, said to be less convinced by some of the other likely candidates, added: “Mel wouldn’t be a bad choice.”
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It came as the new Father of the House urged the Conservatives to choose their new leader by the time of the annual Tory party conference in the autumn.
Sir Edward Leigh said the question of Mr Sunak’s successor must be “wrapped up” by the end of the Tory gathering in Birmingham on Oct 2.
“We can’t delay until Christmas. We need to make a decision as soon as possible,” he said. “Some people want us to go long, some people want it done quickly.
“But nobody realistically thinks it should go on for that long. I’d quite like to see it sorted by September, and if that’s not possible I think the whole thing should be wrapped up by or at the party conference.”
There are fears among some senior Tories that party infighting could become untenable in the event of a longer contest.
It follows a public spat between Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman over leaked remarks made by the former at a party meeting.
But others believe an extended leadership race would help members and MPs alike to assess the calibre of those hoping to lead the Tories back into government.
In an interview with the BBC Alex Chalk, who was unseated in Cheltenham by the Liberal Democrats, said all hopefuls should be “under the microscope”, adding: “The Conservative Party will win back broad base support if it shows that it is credible, it is calm, it is rational and it is focused relentlessly on answers to people’s problems.”
Asked whether that meant potentially delaying the choice of leader beyond the Tory conference, he said: “Absolutely it does.”