A significant new survey indicates that the Conservatives will lose the upcoming election in an episode similar to what happened in 1997.
According to a YouGov survey conducted among 14,000 people in the UK, Labour is expected to win a majority of 120 seats. The Tories would only have 169 MPs, which is 196 fewer than what was elected in 2019.
That would be an even worse showing than when Tony Blair won a majority of 179 seats in 1997 after John Major lost 178 seats.
Eleven cabinet ministers, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, would be removed from office if the survey is accurate.
A critical week is approaching in which Members of Parliament will vote on Rishi Sunak’s main Rwanda bill. The findings put additional pressure on Sunak.
Reacting to the poll, former cabinet minister Simon Clarke said: “This would represent a disaster for the Conservatives and our country.
“The time for half measures is over. We either deliver on small boats or we will be destroyed.”
But defence secretary Grant Shapps today insisted the Tories can turn it around.
He told Times Radio: “We have a plan which we’re working to. There isn’t an election tomorrow. People know that.
“But when they are faced with the choice, they’ll be looking at whether to elect Keir Starmer and Labour and we’d be right back to square one again.
“The long and the short of it is we’re not in an election. People aren’t being asked in the context of an actual election and as is often said, the actual poll on polling day is the only one that really matters.”