FOREST MP Mark Harper insists he can bring the ‘fresh approach’ needed to restore public faith in politics.

He insists that as the only candidate to become the next leader of the Conservative Party who has Cabinet experience but was not part of the last government, he is the man to move the party and the country forward.

Mr Harper served as a minister under Theresa May and was later appointed Chief Whip by David Cameron.

But his ministerial career has been on hold since his former boss at the Home Office became Prime Minister.

He is now trying to convince colleagues in the Parliamentary Conservative Party – who will select two candidates to be voted on by the Tory Party membership – that is an advantage, with healing the wounds caused by Brexit in the party and the country a priority for the new Prime Minister.

He said: “I am the only candidate running who has Cabinet experience and who was not in Theresa May’s government.

“If we are going for a fresh approach, I can bring it.”

Mr Harper declared his intention to run for the leadership at the end of last week and there are now 13 candidates vying for the job.

He said that restoring trust in the Conservatives after the party received a drubbing in both the local government and European elections was a key task for the new leader.

He said: “The first thing is we have had a real kicking in these elections – we have not delivered on the promises we made three years ago in the (Brexit) referendum.

“The clear message after the appalling results from the elections is about keeping your promises .

“If we did that then it would restore a geat deal of confidence.

“The second thing which is important is that we have three years before the next General Election to do all the things that people want us to do – the economy, health care, looking after social care.

“I’m really focused that people who come from backgrounds like me – I come from a working class background and I want them to go to for an apprenticeship or go to university.”

Mr Harper said he is an ‘underdog’ in the contest but is confident he can win.

“I have a number of MPs who are backing me – I’m not one of the frontrunners and I’ve called myself an underdog.

“If we go on like this, we will not get Brexit delivered.”