Let's speak to Conservative MP for Grantham and Stanford. Gareth Davis with us this morning. Have you got a ministership?

Not well. Shadow ministership? Not yet.

Okay.

We've got a shadow cabinet. Okay.

I'm sure you'll get the call. Did you see the GDP figures? What did you make of them?

Pretty good. Exceeded expectations. This builds, of course, on the first quarter of the year, which was the fastest growth in the g seven. It shows that, as we were saying when we were in government, that we turned a corner. Inflation back down to 2%, real wages rising above inflation for eleven months in a row, and growth starting to come back to our economy because of that inflation coming down. And so we're very optimistic in my party that that growth will continue. But it's on the labor government to take that forward now, not screw it up.

So why did he call the election early?

Well, there's a number of factors as to why the prime minister would want to call an election, but the economy is just one factor. But I'm very proud of my time in the treasury. The measures that we put in place that the OBR at the time of fiscal events made clear, would add to economic growth that's now coming through. And we're seeing the fact that we've handed this label government a, a pretty solid economy, which is back on track, turned a corner and going forward with growth.

They concede that you went too soon.

I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying we've performed well on the economy and we're handed, as opposed to.

A statement, you did go too soon.

That's for others to assess and reflect. I think there are other factors that the prime minister will have considered in addition to a strong economy, as to why he goes in July, not in other months. But it was going to be this year at some point, wasn't it?

Yeah, it could have been January of next year, as we know. What's going to go on with who's going to lead the party? Who's your favorite?

So Rishi is going to stay, as you know, leader for now. And that allows us some time to get this right. It's important that we reflect on why we lost millions of voters at the last election. We need to rebuild trust. We need to unite. And it's important that we take time. We haven't had a leadership election for 20 years in opposition, and so I think it's perfectly right that we take time to consider all the candidates put forward, who will put forward a view as to how we go forward and rebuild that trust. And it's for people like me to support whoever I believe can do the best job for us.

Apparently, Kemi Badenoch is odds on favorite.

Well, we'll see who announces. Nobody's announced yet, but when they do.

They as well have done.

When they do, we will obviously consider that.

Yeah. What do you think?

I don't know what's going to happen. I think we will wait the 1922 committee guidance on how the election will be run and the timing of it, and then it's for candidates to put themselves forward, put forward a plan as to how we rebuild that trust, how we form an effective and professional opposition. It's right that we do that, by the way, because millions of people didn't vote for the Labor party, millions of people did still vote for us. And so on behalf of them, we have to push this Labor government who we believe are trying to roll the pitch to racism, who the new leader is. So we do. But again, it's important at the start of this parliament, we take our time, get this right, because I believe we can snap back. I think we can hold this government to account effectively, and I think we can be back in government quicker than maybe some people think we can. And so it is right that we take time, and I'll be watching that very carefully.

If Rishi Sunak said, you know what? I'm gonna have another go, would you support him?

I don't think that's likely to happen. So I'm not gonna deal with hypotheticals like that, no matter how unlikely.

Okay. On a serious note, talk to me about what happened in Bushi yesterday. Abs, honestly, I just can't get over what happened and the terror that those women must have felt in the moments before they died. What should happen about laws when it comes to crossbows?

Well, you're right. It's absolutely tragic and horrific to hear the details of what unfolded. Obviously, there's an investigation going on, and I can't comment on the specifics of that investigation. Nobody's been arrested, so it wouldn't be appropriate to do that. But on your point around crossbows, while incidents are quite rare, as I understand it, involving crossbows, obviously when something like this happens, it's important that we reflect and review the laws. And actually, just before we left government, we did launch a consultation specifically on crossbows to make sure that we keep this law under review. And I would encourage the new government to do the same and to review this.

Under what circumstances could you possibly have a requirement for a crossbow?

Well, this is something we need to look at. As I say, cases involving violent offenses with crossbows are rare, but obviously when they do happen, it's devastating. And so, as I say, we launched a consultation before we left office and I'd encourage the new government to look at this in light of the events yesterday.

Yeah, reform. What are you going to do about reform? A poll suggesting that half of grassroots members are in favor of merging with reform.

So reform, clearly a relatively new party, but took votes from the conservative party in significant numbers and enabled a Labor government who will increase taxes and increase immigration. So they've enabled that labor government to come in. Of course, it's democracy, but we need, as I said at the beginning of this interview, to make sure that we rebuild trust with the british public. Those people that left us at this election, they didn't just go to reform. We lost voters to other parties as well. Answer my question. The Liberal Democrats. And so we need to look for forward as to how, you know, well, one, we need to reflect on how we lost the trust and how we lost those voters in the first place and then have a plan not just to form an effective government, but to rebuild the trust and win those voters back. I'm confident that we can do that.

Okay. My question is, are there a party that you could do business with and potentially even merge with?

Well, look, they have enabled a Labor government and they've prevented dozens of conservative members of parliament from coming back to help reduce taxation and reduce immigration. And so any party that has an affront to conservatism is not a party that I should bring in.

So knows the answer.

Well, they've actively tried to destroy the conservative party. They've actively tried to prevent and have executed.

You had a good go at it.

A policy which has enabled many of my colleagues who are true conservatives, to enter parliament and to be in government. So that's not something I think we should entertain.

Let's end on an up. Are you a football fan?

I am, yes.

Did you watch the game?

I did, yes. I mean, obviously it's fantastic. You know, watching feels like there's a butt coming.

There's no butch.

No, no, it is, obviously. It's fantastic. As an England fan, obviously it's a bit of a roller coaster, isn't it? And we enter Sunday now with tremendous hope. I think we're going to win it, but, you know, we've got to all get behind the team and Gareth Southgate.

Was it a penalty?

I think it was a penalty. It wasn't a penalty. It was not a penalty.

We were lucky.

We won the game. And I'm absolutely delighted.

Fair and square. Okay. It's good to see you. Thanks very much indeed. Thank you.