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Mark Harper has rejected calls for a change in the Conservative Party’s approach, insisting it can still win the general election despite suffering a crushing blow in local elections.
The Transport Secretary was adamant that Rishi Sunak’s “plan is working” amid mounting calls for the Prime Minister to change course ahead of the national poll from both the moderate and right-wing Tories.
“We have a plan and it’s working, but it’s not quite done yet,” he told the BBC. “People want to see delivery, right? So they want to see inflation continue to fall. They want to see the boats stop. They want to see NHS waiting lists continue to fall. We’ve made a lot of progress in this regard, but we’re not there yet.”
His comments came as the Conservative Party suffered its worst council results in 40 years, losing mayoral elections in the West Midlands and suffering a crushing defeat in the London mayoral election.
The phrase “crisis?” What crisis? ” The term was used to paraphrase former Labor prime minister Jim Callaghan’s response to the winter of discontent in the 1970s, when he denied there was “growing turmoil” in a country torn by industrial action. .
The prime minister is being pulled in the opposite direction by his own party, which fears his approach could lead to a historic defeat in the general election.
Former home secretary Suela Braverman said the disastrous local election result showed Conservative voters were “on strike” and called for Mr Sunak to move further to the right, calling for more immigration restrictions. introduction, withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights, and lower income tax.
Asked for evidence that we need to move further to the right, she said: “The proof is that people aren’t voting for what he’s doing, because we’re not seriously addressing some of these issues.” That’s because I don’t believe it is.”
Asked if she regretted supporting Sunak’s leadership, Ms Braverman said: “Honestly, yes.”
In contrast, Andy Street, who lost his bid for a third term in the West Midlands Conservative Party mayoral race, said his party could succeed if it offered voters a more liberal proposition. He said the movement showed.
Mr Street said his brand of “professing, practicing and delivering moderate, inclusive and tolerant conservatism” had almost won him victory in one of Labour’s strongholds.
Asked if he was worried about the Conservative Party moving to the right, he said:
And he added: “The message is clear: Winning from center field happens.”
Dame Andrea Jenkins, a former Conservative Party minister, claimed the result showed the party needed to bring Boris Johnson back to the “front line of politics”.
She told Sky News: “I think now we have to take the fight to Labor. I want to see real common-sense conservatism that honors the manifesto commitments. I want to see Boris back at the forefront of Labor.” Politics, whether it will win seats in the next election, whether it will be the focus of the campaign.
Asked if Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak could be seen campaigning together on a joint visit, she said: I don’t know if we’ll be on stage together, but look at how great Boris is doing this election. ”
Dame Andrea submitted a letter of no confidence in Rishi Sunak in November.