In a political first for Newcastle upon Tyne since 1992, local Conservative councillor Doc Anand has thrown his weight behind Robert Jenrick in the race for Conservative Party leadership, calling for a revitalised party to tackle Labour’s mismanagement of the country.
Cllr Doc Anand, who made history in May by winning a seat in the Gosforth ward—becoming the city’s first Tory councillor in over three decades—has announced his full support for Jenrick, positioning him as the leader who can take on Keir Starmer’s government and restore the Conservative Party to its former glory.
Reflecting on his own victory during a night of heavy Conservative losses nationally, Cllr Anand said, “Breaking a 32-year dry spell proves that there is hope for our party, even in places where you might least expect it.” His triumph in Newcastle, a long-time Labour stronghold, is symbolic of the potential for the Tories to regain ground, even amidst adversity.
But since Labour took power, Cllr Anand argues, Britain has entered a period of steep decline. “We’ve crashed into Starmer’s Britain,” he lamented, citing winter fuel cuts for pensioners, tax hikes for working people, and endless scandals at the heart of government. “In just under one hundred days of power, we’ve seen chaos at the top—Chief of Staff resigning, Head of the Civil Service gone, and Labour’s top donor under investigation.”
With the polls sliding and small boat crossings hitting new highs, Anand believes only the Conservatives can stop the downward spiral. “We need a small state that works, not a big one that fails,” he said, voicing his belief that Jenrick is the candidate to lead the party out of its current malaise and challenge Starmer’s Labour head-on.
Cllr Anand praised Jenrick as a “proven leader” capable of rebuilding trust with disillusioned voters. He urged his fellow Tories to rally around Jenrick’s vision of a revitalised Conservative movement, one rooted in low taxes, opportunity, and growth.
“More of the same high-tax, low-ambition politics will not save this country,” Cllr Anand said. “Robert Jenrick has the broad Conservative vision that will unite us and deliver the practical solutions we need.” He called for an end to “status-quo politics” and emphasised that Jenrick understands the scale of the task ahead, pledging to work with local communities to address issues such as infrastructure, countryside protection, and homebuilding for young people.
Anand’s endorsement of Jenrick, fuelled by his symbolic win in Newcastle, carries a strong message: the Conservative Party can bounce back, but only if it embraces fresh leadership and a renewed sense of purpose. “This is our time to take a stand for our country,” he said, encouraging others to join the fight for a “Conservative way forward” under Jenrick’s leadership.
As a former GP who spent 30 years serving his local community, Cllr Anand is no stranger to standing up for the people. Now, he’s calling on his party to do the same by supporting Robert Jenrick and leading Britain out of what he calls Labour’s “managed decline.”
“Let’s rebuild our party and our country with pride, passion, and purpose—together,” Cllr Anand declared. “Robert Jenrick is the leader who will deliver the change we desperately need.”
