Rishi Sunak has been told he needs to unite the warring Tories if they want to win the next general election.
A new poll has suggested cutting taxes and reducing immigration could be hot topics when voters go to the polling booth next year. It comes just days after the Prime Minister quashed rumours the vote would be held in 2025.
Sunak has suffered a bruising few weeks as the party disagreed over his Rwanda plan – which saw Suella Braverman’s sacking as Home Secretary. However, immigration is a concern for voters who feel it should be cut to the tens of thousands.
The poll, conducted by The Sun, found 51% of voters found the Conservative Party felt more divided since the last election. With 29% saying it seemed more united.
MP Jackie Doyle-Price says voters are “sick of drama” from the Tories. She fears it could result in a demolition at the ballot box unless the party starts working together. While other MPs urged the Prime Minister to focus on key battlegrounds such as tax cuts.
The poll conducted by the newspaper found 48% of respondents wanted to see income tax being cut as part of the next manifesto. While 36% wanted National Insurance slashed and 31% council tax.
The poll saw Labour ahead of the Conservatives on almost all of the key issues, a blow for Sunak. It does however suggest voters are not as keen on Sir Keir Starmer – with 53% saying they would like someone else to vote for.
Doyle-Price said: “There is no love for Labour out there but our supporters are sick of drama. They expect Conservatives to get on with governing.
“The more we fall out, the more we damage ourselves. It’s time to get serious and come together to make our great nation the best it can be.”
Fellow Tory MP Paul Scully also felt as though the warring was turning away the public. He said: “This poll shows that voters do not like divided parties and we must stop fighting each other and unite.
“We need to come together in 2024 and set out one compelling vision for the country.”
Philip van Scheltinga, director of research at Redfield & Wilton Strategies who conducted the study, added: “Our polling has consistently found that the Conservatives have lost their historical reputation for lower taxes during this parliament.
“On tax, the Conservatives have hit delete on a core mission of their party. They might win some voters back if they do cut taxes in the spring, but it might be too little, too late.”
