Conservative Party leadership hopeful James Cleverly met local party members during a visit to the Isle of Wight yesterday (Tuesday). Mr Cleverly, who was joined by Joe Robertson, the MP for Isle of Wight East during his visit, said that the journey down from Waterloo and the subsequent Hovertravel crossing was effortless, admitting that you still get a ‘child-like’ buzz. James said that he comes to the Island a lot and that he and his family enjoyed a holiday in Seaview just a few years ago. The Member of Parliament for Braintree visited Yelf’s Hotel in Ryde on Tuesday afternoon before speaking to Conservative Party Members at Brading’s Wight Knuckle Brewery, where he explained his visions for the future of not just the Conservative Party, but for the United Kingdom as a whole. 
Speaking to Island Echo about why he is running to be Conservative Party Leader, Cleverly said:
“One of the reasons why I’m here is because this is exactly the kind of constituency that we need to make sure we return at the next General Election. “We’ve got to ask ourselves some questions as to why we lost so many voters to other parties. We do have a chance of succeeding at the next General Election, but we need to be united as a party, disciplined and have a clear vision for the British people. “Our core Conservative values and ideas such as getting taxes low, investing in our borders and our country, investing in defence and giving people more economic opportunity, are all – in my opinion – still a very sellable proposition.
Home Secretary under the previous government, Cleverly is now the Shadow Home Secretary having assumed the role in July. Speaking on James Cleverly’s visit, Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson said:
“James wanted to come here and that’s fantastic. “If you are going to be the next leader of the party you need to visit the people on the ground but James is known for this. He’s engaged with the Conservative Party membership and the country at large and that’s why I think he would make a very good leader of the opposition and possible Prime Minister.”
Various Isle of Wight Councillors were present at the members-only event.
