Would You like a feature Interview?
All Interviews are 100% FREE of Charge
Rishi Sunak appears safe for now, but Tory MPs have warned that he is likely to face a new leadership challenge if the Conservatives lose the mayoralty of West Midlands and Teesside. ing.
Imminent threats to the Prime Minister’s authority have subsided since frenzied speculation began to surface that some move would be made against the Prime Minister following a series of damaging missteps by the Tory leader.
Backbenchers now believe Mr Sunak is expected to be safe until the local elections on May 2, but if the result is a “disastrous” result, there are concerns that the party will be left behind, especially if Tees Valley mayor Ben Ben・Warning that if Mr. Houchen and Mr. West are lost, new moves may be made against Mr. Sunak. Midlands Metro Mayor Andy Street.
The West Midlands and the North East, around Teesside, have been relative strongholds for the Conservative Party in recent years, and a loss in the mayoral election in either region would severely damage the party’s prospects in the general election. become.
“problem [for Sunak] They could go after locals,” the former Conservative minister said. I. “I had good results in that seat before, so this time it could be a disaster.
“But the real question is whether big city mayors will lose their seats. Andy Street could go, Ben Houchen could even go. If that happens, it’s a big deal for the entire region. It’s a bad omen and I think MPs will be worried.”
The last time the same council seat was contested was in 2021, which was postponed by a year due to the coronavirus, but the Conservatives fared very well, gaining 235 seats and winning the Hartlepool by-election. did. Opinion polls also showed the Conservative Party leading by 7 points.
Overwhelming reaction to the Budget, No 10’s response that sent Lee Anderson into exile to the British Reform Party, and failed to describe Tory donor Frank Hester’s comments about Diane Abbott as racist This led to a series of letters of no confidence in Sunak, which were finally submitted. week.
But despite reports this week that 40 letters have been submitted to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, the actual figure is believed to be much lower.
“I know there are more letters coming in. That was after both of Lee’s.” [Anderson] and Hester’s,” added the senator. “I think there were six or seven more letters on the back of each one. But I think the number was around 20, not 40 as some have claimed.”
The government whip is understood to have submitted his letter to Lord Graham and could withdraw it if he is informed he is approaching a threshold.
Suggestions that Mr Sunak could simply call an election given he faced a vote of no confidence were rejected by the Conservatives, but one backbencher said: I: “I don’t know if the threat of holding an election is effective. Most people just don’t care anymore and would rather it just be over.”
This stance has been criticized by other Conservative Party leaders who believe the prime minister should hold out as long as possible before going to a vote.
One senior backbencher said: “The Leadership Challenge is not going to happen. We should have an election in November, maybe even December.”
“Some of my colleagues are saying that we should just give up on politics, whatever it is, nine months before we actually have to vote, and that’s pathetic. This is the last 10 This is an indictment on our recruiting efforts over the years.”