Paul Holmes is MP for Hamble Valley, having served as MP for Eastleigh from 2019-2024
In the last few weeks, we have seen Labour’s real intentions for our country. Stripping millions of pensioners of their winter fuel payment, nanny state policies like closing pubs early and banning smoking outside, and a bitter crusade against aspiration.
We need a strong and united Conservative Party to be an effective opposition, stand up to this Labour government, and send them back to Opposition at the first possible opportunity.
When we vote this week, our colleagues need to think seriously about who is best placed to take the fight to Keir Starmer.
They also need to think carefully about who is best placed not just amongst our members, but who is most likely to appeal to the wider electorate. We need to win back voters that we lost to Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform, as well as those who simply decided to stay at home. The person that can do that is James Cleverly.
James’ performance in Birmingham last week was standout.
He also talked a lot of sense. If we are to get back to winning, we need to be the best version of ourselves. We cannot seek to imitate others; we need to unite around our core values and explain to people why Conservative solutions are the right solutions to the issues that our country is facing.
We need to re-earn the right to be listened to so that we can remake the argument for capitalism.
We need to explain to young people why capitalism is their friend. James is best placed to do that. He has always had the same Conservative values; a smaller state, lower taxes, higher defence spending, ensuring that hard work always pays, and making sure that we encourage and reward aspiration.
I have known James for 18 years, from our days together in Lewisham, and he is, without a doubt, the most experienced candidate in this race. He was Party Chairman when we won that all-important 2019 election victory, he led the world in support for Ukraine as Foreign Secretary, and he cut levels of migration as Home Secretary. He is someone that doesn’t just talk – he acts. I know that he is ready to act now, and ready to hit the ground running from day one.
He is someone that can bring together a team from all wings of our Party, a team that will focus relentlessly on delivery. He will get the party machine campaign-ready, so that we are ready to fight our next electoral test – the local elections in May 2025. We don’t have a single second to waste.
That is why today I have taken the decision to resign from the Opposition Whips Office and waive my neutrality. This is a vital juncture in our Party’s history, and I believe that James must be the leader that takes us forward.
