Right-wing Tory MPs have leapt on their party’s record-setting by-election defeats to call on Rishi Sunak to change course and offer voters the conservative policies they clearly desire.
In a statement this afternoon, the New Conservative group said that while the Government has made “positive steps to win back our lost voters”, it clearly hasn’t been enough.
Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger have now set out a list of demands, while saying there is “still time” for the Tories to change course.
They argue that the Government must “adapt to the reality that the by-elections reveal”, and offer target voters “a different and a better offer”.
Their policy wish list includes:
- Declare a willingness to quit the ECHR and repeal the Human Rights Act if the court continues blocking deportation flights to Rwanda
- Introduce further cuts to legal migration, including a cap on work visas
- Welfare reform to get the 9 million adults on the dole into work
- Reinvest welfare savings into prisons and defence
- Cut taxes, specifically the rate and threshold of income tax
The New Conservative MPs are not alone in calling for a radical change to the Prime Minister’s agenda in order to save the party.
Lord Frost warned that while the Labour vote isn’t going up, the Tory vote is “collapsing”.
He argued that the Tories must now attract voters back with a shift “to more conservative police”.
Like the New Conservative rebels, he specifies tax and spend, immigration, net zero and public sector reform as among the most important areas to address ahead of the election.
While no Tory MPs are yet to join the small number calling for a new leadership contest, Dame Andrea Jenkyns used the defeats to call on her colleagues to get rid of Mr Sunak.
She tweeted: “However difficult for fellow MPs we have no choice, we have to change leader”.
“We don’t want to be here but sticking heads in the sand will make matters worse.
“Last chance saloon to change course with a new leader, be tough on immigration & save our great country from the socialists.”
Sir Simon Clarke, who followed Dame Andrea in calling for a new leader in January, is yet to comment.
However allies of Sir Simon predicted that despite the MP fury towards his demand for Mr Sunak to be ousted more would come to his conclusions after the by-election defeats.
They also predicted yet more would emerge from the woodwork after May’s local elections, which are set to equally be very difficult for the Tories.
Mr Sunak has today urged Reform UK voters not to split the right-wing vote and let in Sir Keir Starmer.
