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Grassroots Tory activists say it would be “absolutely insane” to oust Rishi Sunak before the general election despite his poor performance in local council polls. I.
Mr Sunak took some solace from Ben Houchen’s victory in the Tees Valley mayoral election, but admitted the council results were disappointing.
Pollsters predict the Conservatives could lose up to 500 MPs, which would be the party’s worst performance in 40 years.
Nevertheless, local Conservative Party activists backed Mr Sunak to take the party to the general election.
Worthing West Conservative Party co-chair Sean McDonald said: I: “If our MPs are considering replacing Rishi, they need to present me with a charismatic alternative.
“Boris is currently out of office and no member of Parliament has yet shown me an election winner like him. We cannot change leaders again without that person.”
Since 2016, the country has had five Conservative prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Sunak.
Jean French, chairman of the North East Cambridgeshire Conservative Party, added: It’s totally crazy. ”
Harrow East party activist and former association president David Ashton said: “It would be very difficult to make changes now and I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”
Labor won a landslide victory over the Conservatives in the Blackpool South Parliament by-election, with a 26% lead over the Conservatives.
They gained control of key council targets in Hartlepool, Thurrock, Rushmoor and Redditch, where the party is aiming to win the general election.
Labor also claimed victory in the first-ever York mayoral race and North Yorkshire mayoral election, the area where Mr Sunak’s own Richmond constituency is located.
But the party’s gains across the country did not cause grassroots conservatives to give up hope for a general election.
Jeremy Kent, a former Wrexham councilor who became leader of the local Conservative party, also supported Mr Sunak staying in the leadership role.
He added: “There is still a road to victory for the general, but it will be a long and winding one.” If the Rishi is able to reduce inflation further, and interest rates fall as a result, people will feel the benefit of having more money in their pockets. It may certainly help us. ”
MacDonald added: “The vast majority of our people are completely fed up with illegal immigrants coming into this country. They are the silent majority.
“If Rishi stops the ship, it will really help us in the next election.”
Mr MacDonald suggested that candidates running for George Galloway’s British Labor Party could play an important role in raising Conservative expectations for the party.
Mr Galloway said the party had 500 candidates lined up and wanted to stand in most seats in England in the general election, with also targeting parts of Scotland and Wales.
“I don’t like this person or his opinions, but he’s running against Labor in the towns and cities that Labor wants and needs to win,” Mr McDonald said. “He could cause them some serious problems, which may help us stay in government.”