Dragons' Den star slams 'rubbish job' Tories have done in savage attack

17 March 2024 , 11:04

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Dragons' Den star slams 'rubbish job' Tories have done in savage attack

Dragons' Den star Theo Paphitis has said the Tories have "no right to stay in power" after doing such a "rubbish job" in government.

The savage verdict from the prominent businessman came amid whispers of Tory MPs plotting to oust Rishi Sunak ahead of the general election. Asked who he would "invest in" politically, he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "The Tories have just done such a rubbish job - definitely over the last 7 or 8 eight years.

"They've spent all their time looking inwards and themselves and not actually doing the job we've elected them to do. They have no right to stay in power whatsoever". Mr Paphitis said he was more interested in seeing Keir Starmer's general election manifesto "before absolutely putting my foot in any camp".

The ex Dragons' Den star Theo Paphitis said the Tories had done a 'rubbish job' in power

He earlier described Jeremy Hunt's Budget just a fortnight ago as "very disappointing", adding: "It was the last act of a very demob happy bunch to be honest with you. No effort was made to do anything creative with ingenuity that would raise more money for the Treasury.

"We all know it needs more money to pay for essential services - especially the NHS - but then to say actually we're going to have efficiencies, which means cutbacks in normal language, and then to do very little else to raise further income." He added: "There are so many opportunities to raise more income to be able to support the country and the economy and they were all left alone - least of all the damage being caused to our high streets through business rates".

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Just moments earlier the Cabinet Minister Mark Harper was forced to insist Mr Sunak will lead the Tories into the next general election and urged rebellious MPs to "have some confidence".

Asked by Sky News's Trevor Phillips whether Mr Sunak will still be leader of the Tories when the election is finally called, he replied: "Yes he will. And he will take us into that election and he will set out very clearly that we're a Government with a plan. I'm going to be supporting him all the way through and I'm confident that my colleagues will."

The Cabinet Minister also claimed the Conservatives will win the next general election despite trailing Labour in the national polls and facing a 1997-style wipeout.

Ashley Cowburn