Exclusive: Andy Street on regret, saving the Conservative Party and finding a job
In his first interview since losing his job, the former Mayor outlines his plans
Andy Street looks chilled and chipper as he strides alone through the Mailbox in Birmingham. Normally he has staff with him - but that was before he became jobless.
He grins when I ask if he’s signing on. Of course that’s a ridiculous question. Losing a mayoral election, as he did so publicly four weeks ago, hasn’t left him suddenly destitute, nor has it done his reputation or job prospects any harm - if anything, it seems to have enhanced them. I don’t think he’ll be needing the services of the DWP any time soon.
But he admits he is now speaking to headhunters to help him identify ‘the perfect role’, ideally in Birmingham. It will have to be quite something.
For Street wants to not only be involved in shaping the next chapter of Birmingham’s story, ideally in an executive role - but also wants to help save the Conservative Party.
In today’s bonus edition of the Inside Birmingham with Jane Haynes newsletter (that’s me), read on for my full interview with Street, his first since losing the mayoralty. A much shorter, edited version will appear on the Birmingham Live website later this morning - but this is the only place to read the full interview. Sign up to support Inside Birmingham: Take up the introductory offer by clicking through here. One year subscription for £20
Since losing his flagship role, Street has variously been touted as a shoo-in to become the next MP serving the good folk of Solihull, a future Prime Minister, and even the new Managing Director of Birmingham City Council (though I think I was the only one who made a case for him in that regard).
He’s ruled out the former, saying the prospect of being an MP just does not excite him. That probably also puts paid to any prime ministerial ambitions too. And he tells me that while he thought the prospect of heading up the city council was ‘not a stupid idea’ that’s also a no-go.
Over the next hour, in between mouthfuls of brunch at Medicine on the Mailbox’s second level, and when he can get a word in between my rambling questions/opinions, he outlines his vision for ‘the next ten years’.
Now 60, Street reckons he has, based on average statistics, another decade or so of 'good health' in him if fortune prevails - enough time to take on another huge project, build a team, and deliver results. If he can do that right here in Birmingham, all the better. If he can also help shape the fortunes of the Tory party too, perfect.
This is his first media interview since he walked away from Birmingham's ICC four weeks ago, stung by mayoral defeat. We met on Friday; the following day he was heading off to meet up with Laura Kuenssberg for his first national broadcast interview, which will air this morning on BBC1.
Street hasn’t got anything specific to share with either of us about his own future plans but says he wanted to respond to our separate entreaties for an interview to air his concerns about his party. He spoke amid growing alarm that the party will continue its journey towards the right if, as predicted, it loses badly on July 4th.
"The reaction of the party to what happens in the Election is mission critical. I caveat that by of course saying I still want us to win, and a hung parliament is still within reach - but assuming we don’t win, the reaction to loss is really important and will shape the next decade.
"There will be some who will say we lost because we were not out-reforming Reform and moving further right - but the lesson of history, and of what happened here in the West Midlands, is very clear," he said.
"We got so close (to winning a third mayoral term, despite the party's parlous national state) I think because we positioned our brand of Conservatism as a very centrist, socially responsible brand. I hope now, and will do all I can to help ensure, that the party does not veer further right and indeed comes back to the centre."
I ask if Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was among those to commiserate in the aftermath of election defeat. It should not be a surprise that he has not, just as he did not support Street during the mayoral campaign, likely because he knew his ‘help’ would have been anything but. The two fell out publicly when Sunak pulled the plug on the HS2 project north, dashing Street's hopes of seeing HS2 completed in full.
But plenty of 'my type of Conservatives' have been in touch, he says - though few he mentions have or will have significant party roles post election. "Theresa May, David Cameron, George Osborne, Tom Tugendhat, Philip Hammond, Greg Clark, the list goes on, they were very kind, all the One Nation Conservatives have rallied around me," he said.
Clearly they want him to be part of the conversation and debate that will erupt in the aftermath of the election. Barring a miracle result, Sunak will not survive long as leader, and that will trigger a full-on civil war.
Street continues: "I am clear that I do not want to be an MP, but I would want to be part of trying to ensure the party that emerges out of the election is seeking to occupy the centre ground.”
How would he do so without being an MP - from the Lords? Or by being embedded in Conservative Party HQ? Or something else?
“Speaking hypothetically, the House of Lords is one option - I have had no discussions about that, I wish to make that clear, but you will have seen how lots of people have done that, through history and right now with the foreign secretary (Lord David Cameron)."
Another option he considers viable would be to contribute to a think tank - "frankly we all neglect policy making but it is the most important thing of all. Everyone is obsessed with personalities, but the first thing any party in opposition has to do is put its platform together.
"That would be really, really attractive, to help plot that through. There has to be some organisational stuff done too, around how the voluntary parts of the party are organised and led, how the executive is organised. So right now this is all hypothetical but I do believe I can contribute."
That ambition to 'be involved' would persist even if the core of the party's representatives, post election, are, as expected, 'right leaning'. "I would still want to be in the debate. Conference is coming and it will be held here (in Birmingham, September 29-Oct 2) and I will want to be here and telling the story for the centre ground.
"But I don’t genuinely know what the reaction is going to be to election defeat. All I am certain of is that the only time we win is when we are centrist. We do not win by being right wing.”
He points to history to say the ‘evidence is there’ to back up his case. Stanley Baldwin, Neville Chamberlain, Harold Macmillan, right through even to Margaret Thatcher, David Cameron - all won from the centre ground, he says.
I raise an eyebrow at Thatcher. “The 1979 victory was from the centre; she only afterwards moved right,” insists Street. “The lesson of history is clear, the Conservative Party comes back with big election wins when it is in that centre ground. 100 years of history tells us that."
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