This week, Rishi Sunak will attempt to soothe concerns within the Conservative party regarding his leadership. There has been ongoing speculation about potential attempts by Tory MPs to remove him from his position in Downing Street prior to the upcoming election.
The prime minister’s supporters defended themselves during last weekend. The transport secretary, Mark Harper, advised worried colleagues to trust the leadership of the party and continue with their plans, reminding them that “politics is a collaborative effort.”
Despite rumors of rebellious MPs plotting against him to prevent a wipeout at the polls, Harper maintains that Sunak will spearhead the Conservative party in an end-of-year election.
The senior ministers recognized that Sunak had encountered a challenging period due to the controversy over Tory donor racism, the departure of Lee Anderson to Reform, and the lack of impact from his budget on the polls.
They advised that Tory MPs remain confident as the party’s best chance at the next election is a slow and steady improvement in the economy. A member of the cabinet stated that it would be “extremely harmful” to switch leaders before an election, while another cautioned against falling into a cycle of despair.
Sunak is gearing up for another difficult week as his bill on deportations to Rwanda comes back to the House of Commons on Monday and he is expected to attend the 1922 committee, where Tory backbenchers are feeling anxious, on Wednesday.
Over the weekend, government officials worked to strengthen Sunak’s role. Harper stated on Sky News that Sunak will lead us into the election and clearly outline the government’s plans. Harper expressed his full support and confidence in Sunak, and believes his colleagues will also back him.
He stated, “To my fellow colleagues, I prioritize using my time as transport secretary to do what I believe is best for the country and make sensible decisions. This is also the approach taken by the PM, who carefully considers the decisions he makes.”
Former Tory party leader Iain Duncan Smith, who is not typically aligned with Sunak’s right-wing views, urged MPs to avoid focusing solely on internal matters and emphasized the importance of presenting a united front to the public.
In recent days, there has been speculation that certain MPs within the party’s right wing are pushing for Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the House of Commons, to become a “stalking horse” candidate in order to initiate a leadership contest prior to the next general election.
Mordaunt has not spoken publicly about the allegations, however, her supporters argue that she was neither involved nor informed about any conspiracy. They believe that these stories are an effort by her conservative opponents to hinder her potential future competition.
Some Conservative Members of Parliament have concluded that Mordaunt has been actively preparing for a new role for several months. She has expressed her willingness to visit the constituencies of other MPs and build relationships with their local party representatives. It is rumored that Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, and Grant Shapps also have ambitions to run for office if and when Sunak steps down.
“Whether we are out of power for five or 10 years depends on how we behave in the next six months,” one former minister said. “The madness of this party and some of my colleagues never ceases to surprise me so I fear maybe it is about to get out of hand and a leadership contest triggered.”
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The recent private polling results reported by the Mail on Sunday showed that Conservative Members of Parliament were even more concerned as it predicted a historic loss for the party. According to the polling data, Labour is projected to win 250 seats while the Conservatives are expected to only secure fewer than 150.
The way Downing Street dealt with the Frank Hester issue also sparked anger. The transportation secretary asserted on Sunday that the Conservative party was not facing a problem with race.
Samuel Kasumu, a previous No 10 race advisor, expressed to the BBC his feeling of being “frustrated and let down” by the party’s handling of the controversy. He also added that it was not just the responsibility of the prime minister, but also his former colleagues who are currently advising him. He stated that he doesn’t understand their motives and that there needs to be improvement.
There has been mounting pressure for Rishi Sunak to return a minimum of £10 million in donations from Hester, following a report from The Guardian stating that the businessman made derogatory comments about MP Diane Abbott, saying that looking at her makes one feel the urge to hate all black women and that she should be shot. Hester has expressed regret for his statements, but has denied any bias towards race or gender.
Senior members of the Conservative Party downplayed the likelihood of a new leadership competition. According to one member of the cabinet who spoke to the Guardian, the party has no plans to change leaders before the next election, as it would have a devastating effect. They also criticized those who are stirring up trouble, calling it indulgent and irresponsible.
One of the government’s officials expressed that they are currently facing a disheartening situation, but the challenge lies in the lack of simple solutions in politics and that Rishi is receiving poor guidance. Despite this, they emphasized the importance of remaining resolute and shifting their attention towards the opposition.
A source from Downing Street stated: “The majority of Members of Parliament are in favor of supporting the Prime Minister and presenting a united front. This is crucial for victory and he is committed to leading the way.”
Source: theguardian.com
