Ex-MP lacks the 'patience' to return to teaching
Jonathan Gullis was a secondary school teacher before becoming an MP in 2019
- Published
A former Conservative MP and deputy party chairman has ruled out a return to his previous career after losing his seat.
Former secondary school teacher Jonathan Gullis was beaten by Labour's David Williams in Stoke-on-Trent North.
"I don't think I've got the patience to return to the classroom," said Mr Gullis, who would like to work in education in some capacity, possibly involving policy.
"I'd also like to help the Conservative party rebuild in whatever role may be available," he added.
After being an MP since 2019, it would "take quite a lot of training to be classroom ready again," said Mr Gullis, who had been hoping to have some more time to plan for his future.
He believes if the general election had been held off for a few months, and the party could have shown its policies in action, voters may have held a different view of the Conservatives.
They may have seen interest rates falling, the immigration policy working, and begun to see the impact of local levelling-up projects, he said.
"A corner had been turned," said Mr Gullis, stating that funding had just been secured for a range of schemes, including Burslem's indoor market, and tidying up Burslem and Tunstall high streets.
He wished his successor well, and said he would be happy to help out in the background to see local projects through.
"It's so important that people see that money wasn't just a vague pledge, it was a real promise, and therefore people see and feel that change going forward," said Mr Gullis.
For now, the former MP said his immediate duty was to spend more time with his family.
Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk, external
