'Self indulgent' Tories urged to 'unite' behind Rishi Sunak in stark election warning

 

'Self indulgent' Tories urged to 'unite' behind Rishi Sunak in stark election warning

 

EXCLUSIVE: The Conservative Party can win the general election if they keep Rishi Sunak as leader, allies insist.

 

By MARTYN BROWN, Deputy Political Editor

22:30, Sun, Mar 17, 2024 | UPDATED: 23:33, Sun, Mar 17, 2024

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1878570/rishi-sunak-general-election-tories

 

Rishi Sunak’s allies have warned “self indulgent” Tory plotters to rally behind the Prime Minister so the party can focus on winning the general election. They insist he is the right person to defeat Sir Keir Starmer and secure a historic fifth-term for the Conservatives.

 

Their rallying cry comes amid reports of a plot to crown Penny Mordaunt as the new leader in a “coronation” - an astonishing third change since the last election. But Esther McVey, the government’s minister for Common sense, fumed it is time for unity, not change.

 

“Conservative members, voters and the overwhelming majority of MPs are tired of the self-indulgence of some colleagues who are putting their own leadership ambitions ahead of the Party’s interests, she said.

 

She urged colleagues to tell the public about “all the good things” the PM has been doing to tighten up the immigration rules, break the European Convention on Human Rights with the Rwanda Bill and stand up for biological sex.

 

“Any Tory MP who puts self-indulgence and self-interest ahead of the common good and what’s best for the country will never be forgiven by the members.

 

“This Labour Party is eminently beatable - they are not the Liverpool of the political world; they are not even the Salford City of the political world; and it would be criminal to let Starmer and Rayner take over the running of the country.

 

"We all need to put our shoulders to the wheel to stop that from happening”. Tory vice chair James Daly also scoffed at suggestions of another change, insisting all voters care about is that the Prime Minister’s “plan is working”.

 

He said: “We need to focus on getting on with the job and rallying behind the Prime Minister so that our plan continues to deliver.”

 

Ms Mordaunt has been identified as a potential standard-bearer for Tory moderates in a future contest in which Right-wingers such as Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman would start as favourites.

 

Tory rebels have indicated they would be open to a deal in which they could support her but want reassurances over policies such as gender issues.But Sunak loyalists say they are just using the Commons leader as a "stalking horse" to oust him.

 

They claim it is a ploy to bolster support among centrist MPs for a leadership contest, in which they could enter their own candidate. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has also emerged as a potential “unity candidate” in any future contest.

 

With the Conservatives trailing Labour by around 22 points in the polls, election jitters reached fever pitch following Lee Anderson’s defection to Reform UK, the Tory donor racism row and a lukewarm response to the Budget.

 

There are some suggestions that at least 30 letters of no confidence in the PM have been sent to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee. The Daily Express understands that at least five more disaffected MPs sent in letters last week.

 

It is not known how many have been submitted in total, but if the threshold of 53 – 15% of MPs – were reached, Mr Brady would have to make an announcement.

 

Despite rumours of a coup Cabinet minister Mark Harper insisted Mr Sunak will lead the Tories into the general election this year.

 

Asked whether Mr Sunak will still be Tory leader at the election, Mr Harper told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “Yes he will. He will take us into that election and he will set out very clearly that we’re a Government with a plan.

 

“I’m going to be supporting him all the way through, and I’m confident that my colleagues will.” Other Senior Tories have sought to downplay reports of backbench plotting, with a source close to Ms Mordaunt rejecting claims about her as “nonsense”.

 

Former Tory chairman Sir Jake Berry yesterday (Sun) vehemently denied the claims he is behind a plot to install Ms Mordaunt as leader.

 

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The senior MP accused Mr Sunak's operation of trying to turn Tory MPs against one another to save his skin. The febrile mood within the party comes as Mr Sunak ruled out holding a general election on May 2, having previously indicated he will send the country to the polls in the latter half of 2024.

 

Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth called for Mr Sunak to name the date of the general election and expressed concerns there could be a Tory leadership election preceding it. The Labour frontbencher said: “This is not in the national interest anymore. It is irresponsible. We need stability in this country.

 

“He could stabilise this by calling, naming the date of a general election. Otherwise, I fear we may have a Tory leadership election ahead of a general election.” Mr Sunak will seek to go on the front foot on Monday in a speech on business as he tries to convince his restive MPs they can still defeat Labour.

 

He will insist 2024 is the year “Britain bounces back” following the triple shocks of Covid, Ukraine and the Middle East crisis.

 

Ahead of announcing major reforms to boost apprenticeships and cut red tape for small businesses, the Prime Minister said: “The last few years have been tough for the British economy as we have faced a series of shocks: Covid, then war in Ukraine and the Middle East. That’s why we’ve been so focused on our economic priorities: halving inflation, growing the economy and reducing debt.

 

“And there is now a real sense that the economy is turning a corner with all the economic indicators pointing in the right direction. This year, 2024, will be the year Britain bounces back.”

 

Inflation has plunged from a high of 11.2% just over a year ago to 4 per cent now with new figures out this week expected to show it has fallen again. Mr Sunak will point out that numerous economic forecasts show better times are ahead because his plan is working.

 

“All this is good news for growth, with the ONS confirming that the economy bounced back in January and grew by 0.2%, he will say. And the IMF are now forecasting the UK will grow faster than Japan, Germany, France, and Italy cumulatively over the next five years.

 

“But while the economy has turned a corner, we are not out of the woods yet, and we know things remain tough for people. That’s why we need to stick to the plan.”

 

Unnecessary regulatory burdens will also be slashed through Brexit freedoms saving around £150 million per year for thousands of small businesses. And a new taskforce will be established to boost private investment in women-led businesses.