Will Priti Patel’s ‘unity’ pitch succeed?

Priti Patel’s Tory leadership launch in Westminster this afternoon was an upbeat affair, featuring mango lassi and a tonne of merchandise. With caps, tote bags and even festival-esque ‘tour’ date t-shirts on offer for enthusiastic supporters, today’s event was excitedly dubbed a ‘political Glastonbury’ by one of her team, already kitted out in pro-Priti gear. Certainly, Patel’s speech took on an optimistic tone. Leading on her 14 years of experience as a Tory MP (including three as Home Secretary) she touched only briefly upon the recent ‘historic defeat’ suffered by her party at the general election. Instead, the Tory leadership hopeful focused on rebuilding trust between the membership, the public and the party – and repairing relations, after months of infighting, within the Conservative group too.

‘In the last few years, our party got wrapped up in squabbles in Westminster, verbal assaults upon each other that are divisive,’ the ‘Pritster’ told the room.