The Conservative Party under Rishi Sunak's government is facing significant internal and external challenges as it approaches local elections and the general election. Criticisms have emerged over the party's direction, with allegations of sidelining traditional 'true blue' Conservative candidates in favor of more centrist figures, a move that has sparked accusations of betraying conservative values. This strategic shift has led to discontent within the party ranks, with nearly half of Tory councillors deeming the party 'too left-wing' under Sunak's leadership. The discontent is further exacerbated by the rising popularity of Reform UK, which has reached polling highs as right-wing voters begin to desert the Conservatives. High-profile commentators and party members have voiced concerns over the party's trajectory, warning of heavy defeats in upcoming elections, potential leadership challenges, and a long-term impact on the party's power. Amidst this turmoil, there are discussions about a potential 'unity cabinet' led by Penny Mordaunt if Sunak's leadership falters post-elections. The situation is compounded by reports of Sunak's attempts to maintain loyalty within his circle through financial promises, and fears of a Tory wipeout that could lead to a significant shift in the UK's political landscape.
“The only person I did meet in the north east who had positive things to say about Rishi Sunak was Ben Houchen.” Rishi could be forced out by angry Westminster MPs if key territories go to Labour, says Will Lloyd, news reporter for The Sunday Times. @Will___lloyd | #TimesRadio https://t.co/Tj2aSZ7y46
👉 The consequences of wrecking the country and our economy - Conservative cabinet ministers, look away now. Eloquently put by @andrewrawnsley #GeneralElection2024 https://t.co/rodkyVsC7K
Rawnsley’s analysis is as perceptive as ever, but one element is missing = an electoral outcome which is so distorted by the vagaries of First-Past-The-Post can be easily turned upside down by those same distortions. Will Starmer listen to Labour & TU members on voting reform? https://t.co/Q2ldjqqNBv
Andrew Rawnsley giving us a pause...a pause to dare to dream about a Tory wipeout, along with some sage words about the pros and cons (and pitfalls) of a Labour mega-win. So good, I read it twice. Also, Andrew saves his best line until the very end of his article. Enjoy. https://t.co/6Gp3COzoQn
Conservative Cabinet ministers, look away now: your ‘Portillo moment’ could be on the cards | Andrew Rawnsley https://t.co/wFpn58CRHq
Conservative cabinet ministers, look away now: your ‘Portillo moment’ could be on the cards Thank you @andrewrawnsley - and your last paragraph is the most salient point : if KS doesn’t make meaningful change he’ll have utterly wasted his win. https://t.co/BqBq2A99ZO
Almost half of Tory councillors think Rishi Sunak's Government is 'too left-wing', poll finds - as PM is warned next month's local elections will be a 'bloodbath' https://t.co/firgYNThXt https://t.co/VDsdldkIKD
🚨 NEW: Rishi Sunak has offered to finance his aides after they leave No 10 if they remain loyal “Rishi has said to some of the people around him, ‘Don’t worry, just stick with me. I’ll bankroll you after this. If you want to start a business, I’ll invest in it.’” [@thetimes]
Spot on, as ever @andrewrawnsley. Another cracking article that unravels what Labour will inherit and how it should act. https://t.co/lZcvvHuCJL
Agree with most of what @andrewrawnsley writes - elegantly here. Must admit I’m in the pro-landslide camp as regards what’s best for a future Lab government and would expect it to help bed in a full second term (precedents of 1906 and 1945 notwithstanding)… https://t.co/RinqvR0sjn
Bang on the money. @andrewrawnsley can always be trusted to write it how it is and will be, with sage advice for Labour’s first term. https://t.co/cy9SkqBMUn
Keir Starmer should expect to come under vicious assault from day one if Labour wins landslide | @adamboultonTABB opinion Read more🔗 https://t.co/MWBE4H6BXW
Keir Starmer should expect to come under vicious assault from day one if Labour wins landslide Read more🔗 https://t.co/MWBE4H6BXW
✍️ 'A heavy defeat would allow them to return to their conservative roots, just like Mrs Thatcher', writes Sir Rocco Forte Read here👇 https://t.co/SEJud099Yp https://t.co/lXmlZpIUJ2
'The Conservative party is rotten to the core with liberal democrats' Ben Leo reacts as the Tories have been accused of passing over 'true blue' conservative candidates. https://t.co/gFMzd6wlZ1
🚨 NEW: Nearly half of Tory councillors think their party is "too left wing" under Rishi Sunak's government according to a recent survey [@Telegraph] https://t.co/c4JBiAjO0V
🚨EXC: Rishi Sunak being ‘propped up’ in Downing Street by 1922 Committee ‘stooges’, MPs claim Frustrated backbenchers claim some senior members of parliamentary group may have been ‘bought off with the promise of gongs and peerages’ https://t.co/idqHb2RSQ1
More than 5,000 comments on this story about CCHQ rejecting candidates who show signs of actual Conservatism. What an insult to party loyalists. Read here: True blue Tories 'banned from standing in the general election' https://t.co/wRYV5jd9vZ
Brilliant as ever! If @Keir_Starmer thinks he’s having a rough time now, wait til after the election! 👇👇👇 https://t.co/jnG7sVZMfB
“The Tories are going to get so wiped out at the local elections. Rishi Sunak is going to be forced into a position where he has to call an election before that or face a leadership campaign.” @mulkerrins predicts a June election on #TimesRadio. @hugorifkind | @GrainneMaguire https://t.co/DZ9SbwffM4
🔵 There is speculation that Tory MPs disillusioned with Rishi Sunak could seek to remove him before the next general election. Could the Tories really change leader for a third time between elections? Watch the full analysis by @benrileysmith ⬇️ https://t.co/2ugg0jh46e https://t.co/OSDlfi5nqz
“They would be facing wipeout at the election. That’s the moment of maximum danger.” If the Tories lose upcoming mayoral elections in the West Midlands and Tees Valley, MPs might begin to publicly call for Rishi Sunak to be ousted, says @HarryYorke1 #TimesRadio | @hugorifkind https://t.co/e0AfxAsJ2a
Could Rishi Sunak be toppled by Tory MPs before the election? I’ve unpacked that issue for some @Telegraph video analysis. In short: If he survives May, he should be safe. 🎥👇 https://t.co/uydrhDxAs9
.It’s not enough for CCHQ to oversee a historic defeat at the General Election. They are now determined the Tories remain out of power for decades. Another reason, if we needed it, not to vote Tory. @AllisonPearson on fantastic form. https://t.co/BwmG1nwcXq
The attacks on K Starmer from the right in the media are getting noisier ..@JohnRentoul and Janan Ganesh making similar arguments to Andrew Neil below..won’t change anti- tory mood pre- election but the pro small state onslaughts will intensify after.. shows Labour must frame… https://t.co/ncM19U4c5o
Excellent article by @AllisonPearson on how the Tories are shifting left and rejecting parliamentary candidates who show any right-of-centre bias. The @Conservatives are desperate to become the New Liberals = open borders; more immigrants; more woke; etc. https://t.co/EcDbCFrvLZ.
Times weekend read: * Rishi Sunak said to ‘get down’ from time to time about daunting scale of task ahead and need buoying up by those around him * Growing disconnect between No 10 & departments. Officials say No 10 gets obsessed with minor details & has knee jerk responses to…
Some weekend applied history: Whatever Keir Starmer's vision for a brave new Britain, it is China, Russia, Iran (and maybe even Argentina) that could have the final say | Daily Mail Online https://t.co/zHRAPndaV0
NEW: @BloombergUK Saturday read — Tory MPs are floating the idea of a “unity Cabinet” of moderates + right-wingers, led by Mordaunt, if Sunak can’t survive May 2 — No10 is seriously considering a big shift to the right on migration/ECHR to stop letters https://t.co/wfDWhJ1VcC
Brexit rivals Cameron and Farage outshine Sunak and expose Tory party splits One minister told @theipaper: "I was never one of his biggest fans, but having Cameron back is a reminder of just how skilled he is" 🔎 Big read @RichardVaughan1 and @HugoGye https://t.co/ftWTOzyP5l
🚨 The HuffPost UK weekend politics read🚨 How Rishi Sunak has managed to spark a Tory civil war over an issue the vast majority of voters don't even care about (and most of the ones who do disagree with him on). https://t.co/mdjCPNWLiU
Anyone thinking of voting Tory needs to read this. 👇 (extracts) True blue Tories 'banned from standing in the general election' "Downing Street has been accused of blocking “true blue” Conservative candidates from standing in the general election as it wages a battle for the…
Tories weigh unity cabinet led by Mordaunt if Sunak can’t hang on after local elections https://t.co/x4YMFekVWB via @alexwickham https://t.co/pDwIAP88Pz
UK local elections next month pose a moment of maximum danger for Rishi Sunak. An increasing number of Tory lawmakers are considering Plan B. https://t.co/GI7bka4VRh
ANDREW NEIL: Keir Starmer will be our next Prime Minister. Labour could be in power for quite some time. Here’s how Starmer is likely to govern https://t.co/O7mgDeaZFW via @MailOnline
✍️ 'Britain is ignoring China’s most sinister threat yet', writes @MPIainDS https://t.co/pj4bUhOQxh
'The race between Reform UK and the Conservatives is getting close!' @GoodwinMJ discusses the exclusive polling data, and suggests Rishi Sunak should 'withdraw from the ECHR' or 'take more radical action on stopping the boats' otherwise 'it's game over'. https://t.co/ppB6f5LxIy
If my friend and sound Thatcherite @AmandeepBhogal isn't deemed suitable for selection as a parliamentary candidate, Britain's Conservatives have completely lost their way. https://t.co/TxT0puis09
Exclusive: Rishi Sunak Sparks New Tory Civil War Over 'Westminster Issue' Voters Don't Care About https://t.co/mnxiF3Ljxt
✍️ 'Excellent Conservatives are being overlooked in favour of midwit ministerial favourites', writes @AllisonPearson Read her column here👇 https://t.co/Lkr3J4XuSw https://t.co/i2LfvuudrK
This is appalling. True blue Tories 'banned from standing in the general election' No 10 accused of purging ‘high-quality’ Right-wing candidates with traditional Conservative values to ensure party is dominated by centrists https://t.co/TxT0puis09 @AllisonPearson
Big @Telegraph expose on what is really going on with candidate selection. I am quoted: https://t.co/CF6VXqQc3H
CCHQ rejects true blue candidates. No wonder disaster looms. My column: https://t.co/7SwsmDHaBB
A scandal to offend every Tory voter. CCHQ is “rejecting Thatcherite candidates in favour of Wets”. The same geniuses who are driving the Conservatives to a historic defeat want to ensure they continue to control the party! Read here: https://t.co/wRYV5jd9vZ
🔵 True blue Tories ‘banned from standing in the general election’ https://t.co/07SEU7XJf5
Reform UK hits polling high as right-wing voters desert Conservatives https://t.co/0d5KT7PMEx
**Saturday political read** Tory leader hopefuls are schmoozing new election candidates who could get a vote in any post-defeat contest Below are two messages from Penny Mordaunt and a Grant Shapps aide. Plenty more intel in the piece with @tweetsbyames https://t.co/L4SXcjbkxq https://t.co/SL2pOd3LwK
Reform UK has a sting in the tail and it could be devastating for the Tories - analysis https://t.co/DvRJVueqUZ
"The more voters tune in to Rishi Sunak & his gvt the more they tune out. I don’t see how they can stop this decline. I just see more of it —more heavy defeats at local elections, at by-elections, more resignations, more defections, more decline" https://t.co/WtFmh6FXyy