‘Stop trying to be liked by centrist dads!’ Jonathan Gullis tells Tories to ‘swallow their pride’ over net zero as Badenoch ditches target
Former Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis has urged his party colleagues to “swallow their pride” and back Kemi Badenoch’s stance on net zero targets.
Speaking to GB News, Gullis described today as “a big day for Kemi” with the launch of policy commissions aimed at charting a path back to power.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has declared that achieving net zero by 2050 is “impossible” for the UK without causing serious economic damage.
Badenoch stated the target cannot be met “without a serious drop in our living standards or by bankrupting us”.
A source close to Badenoch clarified that she still backs the concept of net zero, but not the 2050 deadline established under Theresa May’s government.
Speaking to GB News, ex-MP Jonathan Gullis said: “Today is a big day for Kemi with the launch of these policy commissions, ultimately laying out a path for the Conservatives to try and get back into power at the next general election.
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“I hope that these policy commissions go well, that they are brutally honest about where we went wrong, but also bold and ambitious about where we need to go in the future.
“I think it’s fair to assess that some of the policies both Labour and Conservative are now pursuing have been, in part, due to the pressure from Reform UK. Without Reform, I wonder whether we would be seeing this shift.
“I do wonder whether enough of my Conservative colleagues, or my former colleagues, may be getting behind this.
“I think Kemi is someone who is genuinely authentic and believable on this issue, but there are many who sit behind her at this moment in time who, I think, will be privately grumbling and moaning but will likely accept it if they think it will help them keep their seat.
“And, as you say, the test will be whether we can convince voters that, if we were in power, we would actually deliver on the promises we’re making.
“And I still say, as I’ve said before, that I think trust in our party is at an all-time low, as it is with Labour. We might do all this work, and the voters may still decide they simply won’t believe us.
“So it’s an almighty task that Kemi has. But what I do believe is that, with patience and time, she can slowly get there if she’s willing to be brave and bold.
“More importantly, if the people around her, and those backing her in Parliament, are willing to swallow their pride stop trying to be liked on social media and popular with centrist dads and focus on what is truly important to the people of this country.”
A Labour spokesperson said: “Kemi Badenoch claims she’s ready to ‘deal with reality’ while remaining in complete denial about the reality of the Tories’ appalling record in government.”
They pointed out that “the Tory leader’s position is at odds with her own historic views” as she “openly championed net zero” while in government.
As a minister, Badenoch had previously promoted the 2050 target as “crucial” to “achieve a cleaner, green future”.