Rishi Sunak admits he doubts he will win the next general election
Rishi Sunak has admitted he is on course to lose the Tory majority at the next general election for the first time.
He said that if the local election results were replicated at a national vote, there would be a hung parliament.
Mr Sunak told The Times the results last week, where his party saw major losses, had been disappointing – but he claimed they weren’t great for Labour either.
It is the first time the prime minister has publicly acknowledged doubts he would win the next general election, after the party lost over 500 council seats as well as the mayoralty of the West Midlands.
He told the paper: ‘I know the last few years have been tough, and I understand why people are frustrated.
‘Losing good Conservative councillors and a mayor as fantastic as Andy Street who has done so much good for the West Midlands is of course bitterly disappointing.’
But he added: ‘Keir Starmer propped up in Downing Street by the SNP, Liberal Democrats and the Greens would be a disaster for Britain.’
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Former home secretary Suella Braverman wasted no time in calling for the Prime Minister to move further to the right to attract voters following the rout.
She urged him to make further tax cuts and introduce a cap on legal migration.
Ms Braverman said she did not think a change of leadership was a ‘feasible prospect’, however, adding: ‘There is no superman or superwoman out there who can do it.’
Meanwhile, Tory MP Sir John Hayes suggested Mr Sunak should bring his close ally, Ms Braverman back to the table, as a ‘authentic Tory part of the Conservative Party.
But Conservative moderates warned against Mr Sunak lurching rightwards, with outgoing West Midlands mayor Andy Street claiming after his loss that ‘winning from that centre ground is what happens’.
Damian Green, chairman of the One Nation Group of Tory moderates, made a similar plea on the BBC’s Westminster Hour.
‘I would just observe the seats that we have lost in the past few days – we lost to parties to the left of us. So I think suggesting that what we need to do is to move to the right is irrational in the face of the electorate,” he said.
Labour sought to dispel suggestions it would consider a coalition with the SNP after the next election.
Pat McFadden, the party’s national campaign co-ordinator, said: ‘Our aim is to win a majority, to govern, to meet the mood for change, and we’re not planning any alliances or pacts with anyone.’
You can read our analysis of the local elections here.
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