PA Media/dpa
London
Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak has urged his Conservative Party to cease its infighting, in his final address to party members before he stands down as leader.
Sunak, who oversaw the Conservatives’ worst election loss in living memory during the summer, warned the party would face further defeats if it did not unite following the ongoing election to choose his successor.
Leadership candidates James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat and Robert Jenrick were urged at the outset of the contest by party officials not to attack one another openly as they campaigned.
At a reception event in Birmingham, hundreds of Tory members gathered to hear Mr Sunak’s final address as leader of the party.
He cracked jokes about current Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s acceptance of freebies and gifts, claiming the conference was such a “hot ticket” he was surprised the Labour leader “hasn’t asked someone to buy it for him.” Sunak also apologized to Conservative members at the party conference for the summer election loss.
