Former aide to the Brexit secretary says Tories 'won't get a majority again' because of Brexit

pulse

August 11, 2017 9:54 AM

James Chapman also said two cabinet ministers had contacted him offering support for his proposal to form a new party to combat hard Brexit.

James Chapman (R) with former prime minister David Cameron

LONDON — The former chief of staff to Brexit secretary David Davis has said that the Conservative Party "won't get a majority again" because of the way it has handled Brexit.

James Chapman, who left his role as chief of staff in the Department for Exiting the EU before the June general election said on Friday morning: "The Conservative brand has been damaged to such an extent it won't get a majority again."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Chapman said that the effects of hard Brexit would "make black Wednesday look like a picnic" and "when that happens the Conservatives will never be in power again."

Despite his past allegiance to the Tory party, he has called for a new political party to be set up called the "democrats" to fill the "gap in the centre of British politics" and to reverse Brexit.

Chapman claimed in his interview that two cabinet ministers, former ministers and a number of shadow cabinet ministers had contacted him offering support for his ideas.

Chapman also used to work as former Chancellor George Osborne's director of communications and was political editor of the Daily Mail newspaper, but said: "I haven't spoken to George [Osborne] about this."

His campaign for a new party began on Tuesday when he tweeted:

He also tweeted saying Boris Johnson and other Brexit campaigners should be jailed for claiming that there would be £350 million extra available for the NHS after the UK left the European Union.

Chapman said: "Let’s be honest, if we had an effective electoral law leading Brexiteers would now be in jail. #wheresmy350maweekboris."

Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said on Friday: "The Liberal Democrats will provide a home for all those who are unhappy with Brexit and the paths the other parties are taking. But equally, we are prepared to work with people of all parties and none to get the best possible future for this country."

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