In anticipation of the next general election, a former Tory MP and senior journalist has suggested that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government could lose. Paul Goodman, former MP for Wycombe and editor of Conservative Home, expressed his concerns at a discussion with the centre-right think tank Onward. Goodman candidly stated he believes the Conservatives are more likely to lose than win the upcoming election, causing concern among Tory members as the party has faced significant challenges and concerns leading up to the election.
A recent poll indicated a significant shift in Tory voters’ attitudes, with just 55 percent of 2019 Conservative supporters now leaning toward supporting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s party, and 15 percent planning to back Reform UK. The Tories are also facing challenges in retaining Red Wall constituencies, which are traditionally loyal but have recently sided with the Conservatives. The data, produced by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, suggests a continued resistance to Labour in these crucial areas, with voters being wooed by the prospect of Reform UK. Responding to questions regarding winning back Red Wall voters’ trust, Goodman expressed caution, stating that it’s possible to make an appeal over time but it would require the Conservative party to modernize and consider the specific requirements of this voter demographic.
David Campbell Bannerman, the former MEP and Chairman of the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO), told The Epoch Times that the Tories were “guaranteed” to lose under Mr. Sunak’s leadership. The CDO was founded to reform the constitution of the Conservative Party and give greater power back to members over the selection process of political candidates, and Mr. Campbell Bannerman added that a change of leadership was the only chance for the beleaguered Tories to win.
It seems support for Sunak’s government is waning. The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill secured a second reading with a vote of 313 to 269, but 38 Conservative MPs, including prominent names like Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick, abstained from voting. Matt Goodwin of PeoplePolling has warned that unless the Conservative Party gets serious about immigration issues, they are on course for a historical defeat at the next election.