Mel Stride is the Tories’ man for a crisis as he leads media appearances tally

Mel Stride has been deployed to front media appearances for the Tories at times of crisis, Telegraph analysis shows.

Over the course of the campaign, the Work and Pensions Secretary has been put forward by the party to represent it on the “morning rounds” of broadcast interviews on six separate occasions, racking up 40 interviews in the process.

He has made more appearances on the shows than any other Conservative minister.

Mr Stride appeared six times in total – three more than Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary, and Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, who have been offered by Downing Street twice each.

Notably, he was grilled by journalists on Wednesday morning in the wake of revelations about Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, who admitted he had placed three bets on the date of the general election. One bet was successful.

He was also sent out to defend the Government on June 9, in the wake of controversy over Rishi Sunak leaving D-Day commemorations in Normandy early.

Mr Stride used a Sky News interview to insist Mr Sunak was a “deeply patriotic” prime minister, while suggesting on Times Radio on Wednesday morning that politicians should face a blanket ban on gambling.

When later asked by Sky why he appeared more than any of his colleagues, Mr Stride said it was because the election was about the tax burden – “an area I have a particular interest and expertise in”.

Among Ms Coutinho’s more nail-biting appearances was June 5, the day after the election’s first televised debate on ITV.

Meanwhile, Mr Shapps was put to task on June 12, ahead of Mr Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer’s Grimsby-based grilling by Beth Rigby on Sky News, and on June 17, the day Reform’s “contract” – otherwise known as a manifesto – was launched.

The “morning media round” sees politicians perform interviews with a variety of broadcasters during the early rush hour, and is seen as key to delivering the political parties messaging for the day, as it often sees peak audiences.

The round includes some of the country’s most-watched current affairs programmes, including Radio 4’s Today and ITV’s Good Morning Britain.

For Labour, Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, has done five morning rounds, with Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster, and Matthew Pennycook, the shadow business secretary, amongst those appearing twice.

Mr Streeting is the only individual to have done more separate interviews than Mr Stride.

Munira Wilson, the education spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, and Daisy Cooper, its deputy leader, have been put forward three times, just ahead of its leader Sir Ed Davey on two.

The Telegraph’s analysis looked at those lined up to take part in media rounds and appearances on prominent political programmes according to the Politico London Playbook, a daily newsletter.

Once the analysis is extended to other programmes, including Sunday morning political shows, Mr Stride remains the most utilised minister.

Aside from his six tours of the studios, he has also appeared on the Sunday Morning with Kate McCann and Adam Boulton, which broadcasts on Times Radio.

Once smaller, less prominent shows are included, Chris Philp, the policing minister, takes second place with six days of media slots.

This includes two days when he appeared on BBC’s Politics Live, twice on Tonight with Andrew Marr and one “morning round”.

This was just ahead of Mr Sunak, who has done key media on five days, including three debates.

This was behind Sir Keir, who has done big interviews in eight days, and Sir Ed, who has done nine.

This was far eclipsed by Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, who has across the campaign done key interviews with political programmes on at least ten separate days.

Across the 30 elected members of the cabinet, almost all have taken part in set piece media.

Notable exemptions include Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, who is widely predicted to lose his Cheltenham seat next month, and Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister.

While Penny Mordaunt, who similarly is at risk of losing her seat, has not been registered as taking part in any media rounds by Politico, she has deputised for the prime minister at two separate debates.

Trusted talkers

By Dominic Penna

Mel Stride

The Work and Pensions Secretary since Mr Sunak took office in October 2022, Mel Stride is a former Commons leader and Treasury committee chairman widely seen in Tory circles as a safe pair of hands.

Little wonder, then, that Mr Stride has made more appearances than any of his Cabinet colleagues during the general election campaign, with no fewer than 41 broadcast interviews.

Last year, The Telegraph revealed Mr Stride has become something of a ‘go-to’ minister when the Government is in trouble.

David Gauke played a similar role in Lord Cameron’s administration, leading George Osborne to say it was time to “uncork the Gauke”.

In the past year and a half, however, politicians and aides have instead been urging their colleagues to “unshell the Mel” and “don’t hide the Stride”.

During his time at the Department for Work and Pensions, he has led the Sunak government’s efforts to end the worklessness crisis and return as many Britons to employment as possible, with a particular focus on the over-50s and ending ‘workfare’.

Other ministers deployed regularly include James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, with 16 appearances, followed by Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, and Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary, both of whom have made 12.

It is telling that Mr Sunak himself has made no more than eight appearances, with his popularity among the public at a historic low for a Prime Minister at this point in a general election campaign.

Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the Commons, was deployed for two seven-party television debates but has otherwise been completely absent from the breakfast television and radio round.

Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary and the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Mr Sunak, is also appearing relatively little, taking part in just one day of media.

Richard Holden, the Conservative Party Chairman, has not taken part in a single broadcast round since the election was called following a controversy over him being parachuted into a traditional Tory safe seat just before the nominations deadline closed.

While his work at the DWP has focused on long-term reform, Mr Stride’s cool headed manner and calm means of explanation have seen him deployed throughout this campaign to focus on short-term damage limitation.

Wes Streeting

Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, has appeared even more for Labour than Mel Stride has for the Tories, tallying up 45 recorded interviews.

A calm but candid communicator, Mr Streeting has been praised in opposition circles for resonating with viewers in a way many others in the party have been unable to.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, made 13 morning round appearances across eight days as he set out his stall to the nation.

Sir Ed Davey

The Liberal Democrats have utilised Sir Ed Davey, their leader, more fully than any other party, with Sir Ed taking part in nine days’ worth of media round interviews.

The enigmatic leader has captured the nation’s curiosity with a series of stunts on the campaign trail, including a ride on a giant slide, an assault course and paddle boarding.

Sir Ed has also opened up about his personal experience as a carer, looking after his mother from the age of nine, when she was diagnosed with cancer and caring for his disabled son, John.

His hands-on campaigning approach speaks to his media handling.