Sajid Javid (pictured at the CPS fringe last night) hailed the ‘new generation’ of Tory MPs and ridiculed Boris Johnson in a thinly veiled leadership pitch at the Conservative conference last night
Sajid Javid hailed the ‘new generation’ of Tory MPs and ridiculed Boris Johnson in a thinly veiled leadership pitch at the Conservative conference last night.
The Home Secretary addressed a rally for young MPs, advisers and activists on the fringes of the conference in Birmingham.
He named a series of rising stars included Helen Whately and Rishi Sunak, both elected for the first time in 2015, insisting he was confident for the party’s future.
Mr Javid’s speech came after he publicly mocked Mr Johnson’s suggestion of a bridge to Ireland to boost the Brexit Britain economy.
Mr Javid is seen as a leading modernising candidate to replace Theresa May. His chances were boosted by his promotion to Home Secretary last year.
He told the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) fringe meeting: ‘Just look at the Labour Party Conference last week. We have a hard-left opposition which truth be told have a chance of winning power.
‘We cannot let that happen and if we are going to stop that then we have to have the right ideas.
‘The CPS is one of those leading think tanks with all the right principles, the right ideas and doing exactly the kind of work we need to see.
‘As well as the ideas we also need the people. Ideas on their own are own are no good without the people to promote those ideas and put them into public policy.
‘That brings me to the new generation: What we have here today are the ideas represented by the CPS and we are celebrating the talent we need to implement those ideas.
Mr Javid’s speech came after he publicly mocked (pictured) Mr Johnson’s suggestion of a bridge to Ireland to boost the Brexit Britain economy
Boris Johnson (pictured running near his home this morning) is being widely attacked at this week’s Tory conference amid persistent claims he is about to oust the PM
‘If I look across the Conservative benches, if I look at the intakes of the last three general elections, if I look at the special advisers we have, the parliamentary assistants.
‘Across the Conservative Party, across our family, we have so much talent and it feels me with confidence for the future.’
Mr Javid also joked about the realities of watching the BBC drama Bodyguard while Home Secretary.
In the show, Home Secretary Julia Montague is blown up and killed as a result of a political conspiracy.
Mr Javid said: ‘I have been watching Bodyguard. One of the outcomes I am not very happy about is I just hope I have a longer life expectancy.
‘I have a new found fear of briefcases – if anyone has one don’t come near me.’
Mr Javid also joked about the realities of watching the BBC drama Bodyguard while Home Secretary. Keeley Hawes’ Home Secretary Julia Montague is blown up and killed