Key facts
- Conservative figures are advising Labour on leadership transitions, citing their party's recent history of instability.
- Key advice includes avoiding personal attacks during leadership contests and unifying the party afterward.
- Tories emphasize the need for a prepared policy plan and a cohesive team for any new leader.
- They also stress the importance of appointing a strong chief whip and maintaining high personal standards.
- The advice stems from the Conservatives' experience of multiple prime ministers in a short period, leading to electoral defeat.
Senior figures within the Conservative Party, having experienced significant leadership turmoil, are offering guidance to Labour MPs who are reportedly considering a change in leadership. The advice focuses on avoiding the pitfalls that plagued the Conservatives, including internal factionalism, damaging personal attacks during contests, and a lack of preparedness for governance.
Drawing from their party's recent history, which saw five prime ministers in seven years and three in 2022 alone, Conservatives warn that such instability can lead to electoral defeat and make stable government impossible. They emphasize that voters will not forgive Labour for plunging the party into similar chaos.
Key recommendations include minimizing leadership swaps, and if a contest is unavoidable, candidates must refrain from character assassination and personal insults to ensure the party can unite afterward. Former aides and whips suggest that contenders need a clear policy plan for their first 100 days and a prepared team, rather than attempting to build policy while in office.
Furthermore, the advice stresses the importance of a new leader actively unifying the party by reaching out to those who opposed them, treating all MPs with respect, and avoiding the creation of exclusive camps. Appointing a competent chief whip who can manage backbenchers and maintain high personal standards, as well as setting an example by adhering to those standards, are also highlighted as crucial for effective leadership.
Finally, Conservative veterans caution against MPs becoming overly invested in leadership crises, urging them to accept the chosen leader and work towards making the situation successful, rather than fostering a culture of 'regicide'.