EXCLUSIVE: Tory campaign chief defends Theresa May's decision not to take part in tonight's leadership debate

Tory campaign chief Patrick Mcloughlin has defended the Prime Minister's decision not to take part in tonight's televised leader's debate, as he accused Jeremy Corbyn of lacking confidence in his team.

By The Newsroom Wednesday, 31st May 2017, 3:51 pm Updated Sunday, 4th June 2017, 9:50 pm

Patrick Mcloughlin

Speaking exclusively to the Yorkshire Post, the party chairman dismissed claims that Theresa May's brand has become "tainted" by the recent social care debacle, and pointed instead the chaotic nature of the Labour campaign.

He also reaffirmed his party's commitment to "vital" high speed rail links in the region, in response to concerns about the lack of any specific details or target dates relating to Northern Powerhouse Rail in the new manifesto.

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But he refused to comment on the latest polls, which suggest the Conservatives could lose up to 20 seats on June 8 as Labour continue to enjoy a post-manifesto boost.

Mr Mcloughlin's visit to West Yorkshire today coincided with a last-minute decision by Mr Corbyn to attend tonight's BBC election debate.

The Labour leader has previously refused to take part in any shows without Mrs May, but explaining the sudden change of heart he said he believed in giving people "the chance to hear and engage with the leaders of the main parties before they vote".

It also comes amid rumours that the Tories have sought to reboot their campaign following the back lash over last week's social care U-turn.

However, Mr Mcloughlin dismissed any suggestion of a relaunch, as he hit back at claims the Prime Minister is running scared of public debate.

"I don't think her brand is tainted... Theresa May has done lots of interviews, she's been knocking on doors [and] she has debated with Jeremy Corbyn every week when Parliament has been sitting at Prime Ministers Question time," he told this paper.

"The fact is that the General Election is about each of the party leaders setting out their own stall as to what they're going to do.

"The very fact that Jeremy Corbyn has only just agreed - I'd like to think our campaign is a bit better strategically planned than theirs seems to be.

"My understanding is that the debate tonight Amber Rudd will be taking part in it. Perhaps Jeremy Corbyn doesn't feel very safe putting Diane Abbott the shadow Home Secretary against the Home Secretary."

Asked whether he was concerned by the latest YouGov poll, which claims the Tories could lose out on an overall majority next week, he said the only poll that mattered was the result on June 9.

However, he added that what he was "seeing on the doorstep" is people "who do not like the idea of Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister and are switching to the Conservative Party".

Pressed on whether he felt the party had any lessons to learn from the way this campaign has been run, he admitted "there are always lessons to be learnt from election campaigns".

But he claimed that overall he was "very content with the way this election is going".