Suella Braverman, the former Home Secretary, has publicly addressed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s leadership following poor results for the Conservative Party in recent local elections. The party lost 400 council seats, the West Midlands mayorship previously held by Andy Street, and 10 police and crime commissioner positions. Braverman’s critique comes amid a broader internal debate within the Conservative Party about its future direction and strategy.

Braverman indicated that it is now too late for the Conservatives to consider a change in leadership before the next general election, despite the significant losses which she described as indicative of a shift toward a potential Labour government. She urged Sunak to “change the plan” and address the voters’ discontents, which she believes are not being met by the current government policies. She advocated for significant policy adjustments, including substantive tax reductions and stricter migration controls.

Additionally, Braverman criticized the leadership of Labour’s Keir Starmer, describing his approach as lacking charisma and his party’s direction as leaning towards hard-left extremes. In response to the election results, Starmer called on Sunak to initiate a fresh general election, proposing it as an opportunity for national renewal.

Throughout her remarks, Braverman emphasized the importance of Sunak taking responsibility for the party’s current predicament and recalibrating its approach to better resonate with voters. Despite internal criticisms and the pressure for alterations in leadership and policy, Sunak has reiterated his belief that his direction is the correct one for the party and country, aiming to convey optimism about the future.