Fighting like rats in a sack does not win elections, mayor tells PM

TEES Valley mayor Ben Houchen has criticised Rishi Sunak and said the Conservatives are “fighting each other like rats in a sack” – only days after praising the prime minister following his electoral victory.

Of 10 mayoral elections fought last week, Lord Houchen’s was the only contest won by a Conservative, with all other mayoralties being secured by Labour candidates.

After the official declaration last Friday, Lord Houchen stood side by side with the Prime Minister and told him: “I could not have delivered the things we’ve delivered in this region without you, Prime Minister.” However, on BBC Radio Tees yesterday, the mayor, who has just started his third term, said the Conservative Party’s poor performance was the prime minister’s responsibility.

Despite Lord Houchen’s victory for the Conservatives, the party suffered massively, losing close to 500 council seats, the West Midlands mayoral contest and the Blackpool South by-election.

A new poll by YouGov showed Labour had a 30-point lead on the Tories, who were polling only 18 per cent. It is the biggest poll lead for Labour since October 2022 when Liz Truss was PM.

"Ultimately it always rests on the shoulders of the leader,” he said. “All responsibility goes back to the top. It's the same in my job as well. Ultimately, you're the one responsible for it.

"But there are lots of people who are involved in the problems with the Conservative Party. It's a bit of chaos at the minute, right, isn't it?

"There's lots of people fighting with each other in the Conservative Party, there are defections going on and ultimately the public do not vote for parties who are not united and are not presenting a united front and also aren't talking to the public.

"If they're fighting with each other like rats in a sack instead of saying to the public 'This is what we're going to do for you', that doesn't win elections.

"Obviously, it ultimately lies with Rishi but there are lots of people that need to get their act together, stop messing about and start talking to the public about what they can offer them, rather than just fighting with each other."

Later in the day Lord Houchen announced a £1 cap on bus fares for people under 21.

The plan, costing £3.5m and funded by central government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, will come into effect for young people across the five constituent authorities of Tees Valley from June 16.

The mayor said: “I’m a man of my word and wasting no time in delivering on this promise. We are creating thousands of new jobs and opportunities and the next phase of my plan is to ensure everyone from across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool can benefit from these opportunities.

“This scheme will make it easier for young people to access the wave of good-quality local jobs and training we’re bringing.”

He continued: “Not only am I delivering on this pledge but I am going further to make our transport system more affordable by securing agreement from the bus operators for a £3 day ticket for all under-21s.”

IS it any wonder that trust in politicians is at an all time low? Only last week Lord Ben Houchen, the recently re-elected Tory Mayor of Tees Valley, was effusive with praise for his party’s leader and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

As the duo paraded in front of the media, hailing Lord Houchen’s reduced majority as a victory, the Mayor said: “I could not have delivered the things we’ve delivered in this region without you, prime minister.”

In fact he went as far as to deny that he had looked to distance himself from Mr Sunak, saying “people around here know I’m a Conservative”, after he “forgot” to wear his party’s rosette at the count, the only candidate on stage not to be wearing one.

However, this week Lord Houchen has found the knives and they are duly out for the Prime Minister.

The Tees Valley Mayor says the Conservatives are “fighting each other like rats in a sack” and the blame for the party’s difficulties “ultimately lies with Rishi”.

What is clear from the comments of Lord Houchen and other leading members of the Conservatives is that the fortunes of the Tory party is more important than the fortunes of this country.

Following Natalie Elphicke’s defection to Labour, a move which in itself is mind-boggling to voters given she was attacking Sir Keir Starmer just a few days before, a string of leading Tories have been lamenting their party’s prospects at the next general election. Completely detached from the challenges ordinary voters are facing.

If the idea is for the Tories to install another leader before the general election, then they need a reality check. The public is already tired of internal Tory Party machinations.

Perhaps they could learn from Nadhim Zahawi who has said “my mistakes have been mine”.