CONSERVATIVE party leader James Cleverly has warned against “bitter infighting” among the Tories and called for a "sensible post-mortem" of the recent rout at the general election.
Cleverly has been appointed to shadow his former role of home secretary after Labour’s landslide win.
While writing for The Times he urged his partymen to avoid infighting and finger pointing. "That is exactly how we ended up here," he wrote.
He also pointed out that there are "no simple answers" to the problems faced by the party and the country.
"That is what parties that never aspire to the challenge of governing do, and what the Labour Party did — the holes in which we are already starting to see," he remarked.
He reminded his party men that Conservatives are now "His Majesty’s opposition" and should hold the Kier Starmer government to account.
"As shadow home secretary I am focused on ensuring that their surrendering of our borders is not going unchallenged, and there has been plenty for me to sink my teeth into already," he wrote.
"To be an effective opposition we need to be a credible opposition. We need to act as players, not as commentators," he added.
His comments came after Suella Braverman attacked "liberal Conservatives" and Kemi Badenoch reportedly used Rishi Sunak’s first shadow cabinet meeting to criticise his campaign and Braverman.
Badenoch said Sunak's early departure from D-Day commemorations in France was “disastrous” and alleged that this cost some Tory MPs their seats. The Conservatives lost 251 seats, leaving them with 121 MPs.
Braverman had earlier said that Reform UK is an “existential threat” to the Tories.
Rishi Sunak last week announced that he would step down as party leader once the formal arrangements for choosing a successor were in place.
The prominent names doing rounds for Tory leadership include Braverman, Badenoch, former home secretary Dame Priti Patel, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, and former health secretary Victoria Atkins.
Tory MPs usually vote to select the top two candidates to put forward as potential leaders, with the party membership choosing the ultimate winner.
The rules and timeline will be set out by the backbench 1922 Committee, and Bob Blackman has been elected chairman.
Blackman's election has also sparked controversy with a Tory MP alleging he was not allowed to vote.
Voting took place in the Houses of Parliament between 5 pm and 5.30 pm on Tuesday, but some MPs were told in an email that they could vote until 6 pm.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)