Tom Tugendhat provided a scathing response today – when asked about the ‘naughtiest thing’ he’s ever done – Tory The leadership candidate replied: ‘Well, I once invaded a country.’
The former British Army officer wanted to draw on his experience in the military – during which he served in both Iraq and Afghanistan – as he proceeded to change his case boris johnson as Prime Minister.
Though regarded as an outsider in the No. 10 race, as he has not been a government minister before, the 49-year-old insisted he has a wealth of experience as a ‘leader’.
Mr Tugendhat, chairman of the House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee, vowed to be tough on Russia and China,
He also promised to reverse the hike in national insurance and take action on ‘crippling’ fuel charges.
The married father-of-two is one of nine Tory lawmakers who have officially declared themselves candidates in the fight to become the next PM.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is set to further expand the list of contenders by launching her bid within the next 24 hours.
Tom Tugendhat insists he has a wealth of experience as a ‘leader’, even though he has never served as a government minister
Mr Tugendhat, now pictured with Labor MP Dan Jarvis, served in both Iraq and Afghanistan when he was in the British Army
The senior MP wanted to draw on his experience in the military as he advances his case to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister
Speaking to Sky News’ Sophie Ridge on Sunday’s show, Mr Tugendhat was told his lack of ministerial experience at a time when many of his leadership rivals held at least one cabinet role.
“It’s not an entry-level position, but it’s also not a management position, it’s a leadership position,” he said.
‘And the reality is that my entire career has been serving our country and leading combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan.
‘In being a leader in foreign affairs where I stand very clearly for my country, defending my country against Chinese economic threats and against Russian bullying in many different areas.
‘This has me taken for granted by one and attacked quite viciously by the other.
‘And, in fact, I fought for my country and was attacked there too, yes, it’s about leading teams, it’s about setting a vision and a clear plan and that’s why I’m ten for development. I want financial plan for the year. ,
Mr Tugendhat also spoke of the ‘extraordinary’ lessons he had learned from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, during which he was injured and – at one point – a doctor died for him before his unexpected reappearance. information was filled
He said: ‘That was a very long night. I was sent to serve with an extraordinary group of Royal Marines, I was very proud to be there.
‘It was an extraordinary time that taught me a lot about leadership and standing together and teamwork.
‘But it really taught me about our country because although … we were far from home, I worked with people from across Scotland and Northern Ireland, from all over England and all of Wales.
‘It was an extraordinary lesson for me in the wealth and depth and strength and courage of our country and the people who built it.’
Mr Tugendhat vowed to reverse the 1.25 per cent increase in national insurance that Mr Johnson introduced to boost NHS and social care spending.
As he backed his ’10-year economic plan’, the senior backbencher also promised action on the ‘crippling’ fuel duty and said he would ‘look at’ the corporation tax rate.
But he hit back on the question of whether he supported public sector wage hikes in line with rising inflation, or how he would deliver on his promises.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted he was ‘not a natural rebel’ when asked about the ‘most mischievous thing’ he had ever done
Tonbridge and Malling MPs also backtracked from their previous claim that Britain could expel all Russian citizens living in Britain after the invasion of Ukraine.
“There are Russian citizens here who absolutely deserve and need the protection of the British state against the tyrant in Moscow,” he said.
‘However, we also need to do our best to keep the British people safe and so I am very clear about expelling KGB officials, people associated with it and those campaigning on behalf of a vicious dictatorship.’
When rival leadership candidate Grant Shapps was asked about the same program as the ‘most naughty’ thing he’d ever done, the transport secretary referred to former Prime Minister Theresa May’s confession that she was Then she passed through the wheat fields.
He said: ‘I’m actually not very naughty. I haven’t done any corn fields or anything like that. I am not a natural rebel.’