Former Peterborough MP Paul Bristow admits he was embarrassed to mention the Conservative manifesto or the national campaign during the general election.
“With a notional majority of less than 2,000, I made the election a referendum on Peterborough’s future,” he tells Conservative Home, an independent conservative news and analysis website.
“I didn’t mention our manifesto or the national campaign once. I was embarrassed. My campaign was all about my record, my promises for the future, and a commitment to continue to be a high-profile, accessible MP. I lost by 118 votes.”
Mr Bristow also says he party will not win power again without saying one word to the electorate – and that’s the word ‘sorry’.
“We must recognise we won’t win again unless we say sorry and address why we lost,” he says.
“Sorry seems to be the hardest word to say, but only contrition will set us free.”
Picture by Terry Harris.
Mr Bristow, MP for the city from 2019 to 2024, adds: “The sad truth is that we disastrously lost the last election. Labour only received 34 per cent of the vote. But they have an enormous majority because the public was fed up to the back teeth with us.
“I knocked on doors for hours every day before and during the campaign. And heard time and time again how disappointed and angry people were.”
The former MP added: “We must understand the political and societal realignment that has been going on since 2008 (and is still going on) and build an electoral coalition that can deliver us victory.”
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