Tom Tugendhat MP, the Shadow Security Minister, met with Conservative Party members from across Cumbria in Penrith on Friday as part of his nationwide tour.
The event took place at the Conservative Club in Penrith, bringing together local party members and former MPs and candidates from the July General Election.
In his address, Tom Tugendhat pointed to the Conservative Party's failure to deliver on key promises, such as tax cuts and controlled immigration, as reasons for the General Election loss.
On Friday, he pledged to local members that, as the leader of the Conservative Party, he would unite the party, rebuild trust with the British people, and secure victory in the next General Election by focusing on delivery and recommitting to traditional conservative values.
Tom Tugendhat remarked,
"I am delighted to be here in Penrith. The coming months are crucial for the Conservative Party. We need to have an honest conversation about our future and how we rebuild from the ground up. The choice ahead is clear: we must end the infighting and broken promises and unite the party to win in five years’ time."
He continued,
"Local associations and members are the backbone of our party. Their hard work and dedication drive Conservative values forward. Unfortunately, in recent years, instead of fighting for these traditional values—like lower taxes, controlled immigration, and personal freedoms—we have been fighting among ourselves. We didn’t deliver on our promises, and we lost the trust of the British people. This is what I will put an end to. As Leader of the Conservative Party, I will unite us, rebuild trust, and win in five years’ time. I look forward to working with everyone across our Conservative family to achieve this and deliver for the British people.”
Matty Jackman, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale in the General Election attended the event.
Matty Jackman shared,
"It was a fantastic event in Penrith, and it was great to have Tom back in Cumbria. Tom is the right person to unite our party and set us on course for victory. He’s a man of service and genuine integrity, and I’m confident he will serve Cumbria well as our leader."
He added,
"Tom is already inspiring the next generation of Conservatives while bringing together both former and existing voters. He understands the North and knows what we need. Tom is the leader who will bring us success."
Conservative Party members across the UK will soon cast their votes for the new party leader, with six candidates in the running: Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel, Mel Stride, and Tom Tugendhat.
