Those Tory leadership videos in full: Candidates’ cringey clips and logos are mocked – from Penny Mordaunt’s Oscar Pistorius gaffe, to Grant Shapps’ Alan Partridge-esque effort and Sajid Javid resurrecting what he used in his failed 2019 bid
Tory leadership hopefuls have been revealing their campaign videos – only to be met with plenty of raised eyebrows and mockery on social media.
Brits poked fun at the ‘cringey’ efforts, which included a bizarre TikTok post by Grant Shapps showing the besuited Transport Secretary in a range of poses against a throbbing disco soundtrack.
Penny Mordaunt was forced to edit her video after featuring a clip of grinning killer Oscar Pistorius, while Liz Truss is being investigated by the Foreign Office over claims she wrongly used footage filmed by civil servants.
Former Home Secretary Sajid Javid decided making a ‘shiny new video’ wasn’t worth the effort – resurrecting the one he used for his failed 2019 bid instead.
Meanwhile, Twitter users poked fun at Tory MP Rehman Chishti for his campaign launch, with one comparing the little-known politician to road rage driver Ronnie Pickering – known for the infamous line ‘Do you know who I am?’
The race is looking increasingly chaotic after 11 candidates declared, and Priti Patel seriously considering making it a dozen by throwing her hat into the ring. There are claims that Jacob Rees-Mogg is also mulling joining the fray.
It came as Twitter user Fergus Butler-Gallie mocked the hopefuls’ campaign logos in a hilarious thread. He said Suella Braverman’s logo resembled ‘a graphic design project submitted as part of someone’s ICT GCSE c. 2004’, while Grant Shapp’s logo was akin to ‘the branding of a failed construction consortium’.
Penny Mordaunt: Urgently edits out grinning killer Oscar Pistorius – as British Olympic hero Jonnie Peacock demands to be removed
Penny Mordaunt suffered an early blow after it was noticed her campaign launch video featured convicted killer Oscar Pistorius.
She then received a further knock after Team GB Paralympian Jonnie Peacock – who also featured in the video – asked to be removed.
Peacock tweeted: ‘I officially request to be removed from this video…. Anything but blue please.’
Penny Mordaunt’s campaign launch risked being overshadowed by several controversies over her campaign video
One clip included scenes of a grinning Pistorius – filmed two years before he was convicted for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Dan Crawford, a Labour councillor in Ealing, was among those to spot the appearance of Pistorius in Ms Mordaunt’s video
One Twitter user mocked the hopefuls’ campaign logos in a hilarious thread.
Fergus Butler-Gallie said Suella Braverman’s logo resembled ‘a graphic design project submitted as part of someone’s ICT GCSE c. 2004’.
He said Grant Shapp’s logo was akin to ‘the branding of a failed construction consortium, now to be found vandalised on PPI projects throughout the land. Like Carillion but with MegaBloks.’
Meanwhile, he compared Tom Tugendhat’s campaign designs to ‘promotional material for a UKTV Gold special where Tom goes around offering advice- a la Kim and Aggie- on how to tidy people’s homes.
The international trade minister included scenes of British sporting success in the video; such as England cricketer Jonny Bairstow celebrating a century, and the moment the Welsh football team qualified for this year’s World Cup.
The footage also featured British Paralympian Jonnie Peacock winning gold at London 2012.
And it was this clip that included scenes of a grinning Pistorius – filmed two years before he was convicted for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The South African’s verdict of manslaughter was later upgraded to murder and he was sentenced to 13 years in jail.
Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp four times, although he claimed he had mistaken her for a possible intruder at his Pretoria home.
His trial garnered widespread media attention across the world.
Ms Mordaunt’s campaign video featured no footage of herself but, in a voiceover at the end, she said: ‘Our leadership has to change.
‘It needs to become a little less about the leader and a lot more about the ship.’
Social media users noted how the footage of Pistorius seemed ‘a bit off-brand’.
Julian Druker, a correspondent for 5 News, posted on Twitter: ‘Penny Mordaunt’s campaign video features Jo Cox, Captain Tom and um, Oscar Pistorius but scarcely any Penny Mordaunt.’
Twitter user Fergus Butler-Gallie mocked the Conservative hopefuls’ campaign logos in a hilarious thread
He said Grant Shapp’s logo was akin to ‘the branding of a failed construction consortium, now to be found vandalised on PPI projects throughout the land. Like Carillion but with MegaBloks’
Meanwhile, he compared Tom Tugendhat’s campaign designs to ‘promotional material for a UKTV Gold special where Tom goes around offering advice- a la Kim and Aggie- on how to tidy people’s homes
Grant Shapps: Bizarre ‘back Shapps’ TikTok video set to disco music and 13-second official video including just 25 words
Grant Shapps is well known for his love of corny videos and today he did not disappoint – releasing a bizarre TikTok video set to throbbing disco music.
The footage did not contain any words but showed the Transport Secretary walking around in a suit with a soundtrack by Harlem musician Austin Millz playing in the background.
Meanwhile, his official campaign video was the shortest of the lot, lasting just 13 seconds.
POV: You’re running to be the next leader of the Conservative & Unionist Party and Prime Minister.
The ‘Partridge-esque’ effort included just 25 words: ‘My case for leadership is simple. I can plan, I can deliver, I can communicate, I can campaign, I can help you win your seat.’
The footage was interspersed with mock-ups illustrating each of his three-word pledges.
Mr Shapps released another unorthodox video last week when he revealed the finalists in a new contest to be named Britain’s rail HQ.
Set to stirring music, the minister announced that six towns and cities – Birmingham, Crewe, Derby, Doncaster, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and York – were all in the running to become ‘Home of Britain’s Railways’.
Mr Shapps’ official campaign video was the shortest of the lot, lasting just 13 seconds. The ‘Patridge-esque’ effort included just 25 words: ‘My case for leadership is simple. I can plan, I can deliver, I can communicate, I can campaign, I can help you win your seat’
Liz Truss: Vows to return to ‘core Tory principles’ and ‘low taxes’ – but did she wrongly use footage filmed by civil servants?
Liz Truss officially kicked off her leadership bid today with a slick video vowing to return to ‘core Tory principles’ – only for claims to emerge that she wrongly used footage filmed by civil servants.
In her video, the Foreign Secretary played up her experience at the top levels of government and said the party needs to ‘deliver, deliver, deliver’ to win the next general election.
Ms Truss said a prime minister with ‘experience, who can hit the ground running from day one’ was needed.
Ms Truss said a prime minister with ‘experience, who can hit the ground running from day one’ was needed
She highlighted her work on trade deals with Australia and Japan, and on the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol Bill as among her credentials.
But it later emerged that the leadership hopeful was being investigated over claims some of the video used footage filmed by civil servants – a breach of the rules given its political nature.
‘I’m told directors at the foreign office are now looking at the Truss launch video, because some of the footage was filmed by civil servants not spads and they may not be allowed to use it,’ Tim Shipman of the Sunday Times tweeted.
Meanwhile, MailOnline can reveal the domain name of Ms Truss’s campaign website was registered a whole month ago – 36 hours after Boris Johnson survived a no confidence vote in which she backed him.
Rishi Sunak: Slick account of his ‘humble’ family history along with a ‘swipe at Boris Johnson for ”telling fairytales”
In his campaign video, Rishi Sunak pledged his Tory leadership campaign would be based on ‘patriotism, fairness and hard work’.
The 42-year-old also unveiled a website as part of a very polished campaign launch – with the slogan ‘Ready For Rishi’.
In his video, Mr Sunak pledged his bid to become PM would be based on ‘patriotism, fairness and hard work’. The 42-year-old also unveiled a campaign website with the slogan ‘Ready For Rishi’
Ready for Rishi? Key parts of ex-Chancellor’s slick campaign video
His background:
‘This young woman came to Britain, where she managed to find a job, but it took her nearly a year to save enough money for her husband and children to follow her. One of those children was my mother, aged 15. My mum studied hard and got the qualifications to become a pharmacist. She met my dad, an NHS GP, and they settled in Southampton.’
His experience:
‘I ran the toughest department in Government during the toughest times when we faced the nightmare of Covid. My values are non-negotiable. Patriotism, fairness, hard work. We’ve had enough of division. Politics at its best is a unifying endeavour, and I have spent my career bringing people together.’
His swipe at Boris Johnson:
‘Do we confront this moment with honest, seriousness and determination? Or do we tell ourselves comforting fairytales that might make us feel better in the moment, but will leave our children worse off tomorrow?’
Mr Sunak said: ‘Our country faces huge challenges, the most serious for a generation. Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions.
‘Because the choices we make today will decide whether the next generation of British people will have more opportunities than the last.’
It emerged that Mr Sunak’s campaign website, www.ready4rishi.com, was registered on Wednesday – before Mr Johnson had declared he would be stepping down as PM.
In his resignation letter to Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak publicly questioned the PM’s competence and seriousness. He also described ‘fundamental’ differences between himself and Mr Johnson on economic policy.
The ex-Chancellor appeared to take another swipe at the outgoing PM in his campaign video.
With Britain in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis with households suffering from soaring inflation, Mr Sunak asked: ‘Do we confront this moment with honesty, seriousness and determination?
‘Or do we tell ourselves comforting fairytales that might make us feel better in the moment, but will leave our children worse off tomorrow?
‘Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions.’
Mr Sunak also used the video to detail his family background – with his grandparents having emigrated to Britain from East Africa in the 1960s.
He described his mother, Usha, studied to become a pharmacist before meeting his father, Yashvir, who was an NHS GP.
Mr Sunak grew up in Southampton before going on to study at Oxford University and then Stanford University, in the US.
Mr Sunak used his campaign launch video to talk about how his mother, Usha, came to Britain from East Africa at the age of 15
Sajid Javid: Re-uses video from his failed bid to become Prime Minister three years ago
Sajid Javid furthered his leadership bid last night, saying ‘better days lie ahead’ in a republished campaign video from three years ago.
The former health secretary pledged to ‘unite the country’ as he moved to position himself among the favourites to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister.
The video, first published as part of his failed leadership bid in 2019, gave a glimpse into life at home with his wife, four children and his dog Bailey.
Sajid Javid decided to share the same clip used in his failed 2019 Tory leadership campaign. He is pictured by his parents’ old shop in Bristol
Mr Javid, who was brought up in Bristol, also spoke about the influence of his ‘workaholic’ parents who owned a clothing shop.
Speaking of the ‘value of hard work’, he said they encouraged him to work in international business before entering politics.
In a lighthearted swipe at rivals, Mr Javid tweeted: ‘I don’t have a fancy new video. So here’s one I made earlier’.
The Javids’ cavapoo bitch Bailey has a starring role in the clip made three years ago
Tom Tugendhat: MP declares ‘it’s time for a clean start’ as he calls for ‘seriousness and integrity’ in break from Boris
In a stripped down launch video, Tom Tugendhat painted a sombre picture of a Britain where ‘trust in politics is collapsing’ amid a ‘cost of living crisis at home and threats abroad’.
The chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, wearing a white shirt open at the collar and with his arms resting on a table, said it was a time for ‘seriousness and integrity’ after Mr Johnson’s chaotic leadership.
And he also revealed some of his policy proposals, declaring the UK ‘at its best is low tax and high growth’ and vowing to ‘cut the tax on jobs and fuel’.
The 49-year-old continued: ‘I have a vision and a ten-year plan. I will deliver. I’ve shown that I can lead where it matters. That I will stand up and be counted.
‘I’ve served our country in uniform and in Parliament and I’m ready to serve again. It’s time for a clean start.’
Tom Tugendhat said it was a time for ‘seriousness and integrity’ after Mr Johnson’s chaotic leadership
Who is Rehman Chishti? Obscure Tory MP launches bid to become Prime Minister
A little-known Tory MP launched his campaign to be the next Conservative leader just two days after becoming a minister for the first time.
Rehman Chishti raised eyebrows in Westminster by becoming the 11th candidate to officially throw their hat into the ring – leading to a stream of mocking memes on social media.
Mr Chishti, a 43-year-old who was born in Pakistan and moved to the UK in 1984 unable to speak a single word of English, was not even a Conservative in 2005, when he stood for Labour at the general election.
After his election in 2010 as Tory MP for Gillingham and Rainham, he passed his time on the backbenches before a surprise elevation amid the turmoil that engulfed the government last week.
This saw him appointed under-secretary of state for foreign, Commonwealth and development affairs. After just two days in the office he decided it was time to apply to become Prime Minister.
Announcing his candidacy on Twitter last night, he said: ‘I’m standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister. For me it’s about aspirational conservatism, fresh ideas, fresh team for a fresh start taking our great country forward.
‘For me it all started back in 1984 when I came to Gillingham. I went to Napier Primary School. I was not able to speak a single word of English. It was down to the amazing teachers that I had who instilled the values in me of courage, of determination, of self belief, of a can-do attitude which led to me being the first person in my family to go to university to study law…’
The video – which was interrupted by the sound of wind and cut off early – prompted hilarity on social media, with one user comparing him to road rage driver Ronnie Pickering – famous for the line ‘Do you know who I am? I’m Ronnie Pickering’.
The video – which was interrupted by the sound of wind and cut off early – prompted hilarity on social media, with one user comparing him to road rage driver Ronnie Pickering – famous for the line ‘Do you know who I am? I’m Ronnie Pickering’
Source: Read Full Article
