Sir Nicholas Soames brands Theresa May's vision 'dull, dull, dull' in call for bolder Tory leadership

Theresa May's vision was branded 'dull, dull, dull'
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Winston Churchill’s grandson today branded Theresa May’s vision “dull, dull, dull” as a chorus of ex-ministers called for a bolder Tory alternative to Jeremy Corbyn’s ideas.

Sir Nicholas Soames became the fifth senior figure in four days to call for a more “bold and brave” approach from No 10 to prevent voters drifting to Labour’s radical left-wing agenda.

“It really won’t be enough to get people to vote against The Corbini, they must have really sound reasons to vote Conservative,” he said in a tweet. “We really need to get on with this.”

Sir Nicholas added a waspish hash-tag: “#wherestheboldandbravesofaritsdulldulldull”.

Former Tory chairman Grant Shapps, meanwhile, urged Mrs May to demonstrate a “big vision” or risk voters drifting away. “People are crying out for an alternative vision, and it has got to be a long-term plan for Britain in the world,” he told the Evening Standard.

Over the weekend, former business minister Nicholas Boles criticised “a timidity and lack of ambition about Mrs May’s Government which means it constantly disappoints”.

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Then Ed Vaizey, the former culture minister, called for “big, bold ideas” and warned against what he called a “safety first approach”. In addition, Sarah Wollaston, the Tory chair of the health select committee, said the Government “lacks ambition”.

Mr Shapps added: “A lot of people like me are concerned and angry about the prospect of a Marxist government in this country. It’s our duty to make sure that we present a compelling alternative to the answers of the extreme Left. It would make the Government’s job a lot easier if it can demonstrate that it has a ‘destination’. That destination should be a big vision for Britain operating in the world today. Without that, everything else appears as if it is designed to deal with just day-to-day problems and not the long-term future.”

He said Mrs May should put targets on her ambitions, such as to make the UK the pre-eminent economy in Europe in 30 years’ time: “You can’t unite behind a national plan if it doesn’t go further than making the country a fair place for everybody.”

Responding to Mr Shapps, a Government source said: “Look at our record. Stamp duty cut, the first 25-year environment plan, better high-paid jobs through the industrial strategy and investing more in the public services we need like the NHS, social care and schools, while growing the economy and keeping taxes low.”

Former Cabinet minister Priti Patel today praised Mrs May for “doing a very difficult job in these Brexit negotiations”. “She is delivering the will of the British public,” said the Brexit-backer, who quit after failing to reveal meetings with Israeli leaders.

Patel told ITV1’s Good Morning Britain: “I apologise for what happened. My actions caused difficulty for the Government. I take the view that, as a politician, we all know other politicians around the world. Whether you are abroad on business or even on holiday, I think it’s remiss if you don’t actually go and meet people who you know. That’s what I did, there was no malice intended.”

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