Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has acknowledged that the Conservative Party faces an uphill battle in the upcoming general election.
As a “realist,” Shapps called on voters to help prevent a sweeping Labour majority, even as he concedes that a Tory victory is unlikely.
“I think that’s the realistic position, isn’t it? I mean, I live in the real world. So, you know, let’s not try and pretend black is white.”
Grant Shapps
His statement reflects a broader sense of pragmatism within the party as it grapples with stark polling numbers that show the Conservatives trailing Labour by more than 20 points.
Shapps’s comments came as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take a more aggressive stance against Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Senior Conservatives are urging Sunak to launch pointed personal attacks on Starmer to invigorate their faltering campaign.
Despite these calls for a strategic pivot, there are concerns about Sunak’s willingness and comfort level with such tactics.
Sunak’s approach has thus far been more focused on policy contrasts rather than personal jabs.
Sunak Optimistic About Elections
During a recent visit to Centrica’s Rough 47-3B gas rig, the Prime Minister maintained an optimistic tone.
“There’s still two and a half weeks to go in this election, I’m fighting hard for every vote because I believe we can win. And there’s a very clear choice at this election: it’s having your taxes cut by the Conservatives or facing significant tax rises with the Labour Party.”
Rishi Sunak
Despite Sunak’s positive rhetoric, other key figures within the party are calling for a shift in strategy.
Cabinet members suggested that Sunak should highlight Starmer’s past as a human rights lawyer, his support for former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and his previous calls for a second Brexit referendum.
One cabinet member noted, “Rishi is a really nice and deeply honorable guy.”
“I’m not sure whether he’s uncomfortable instinctively with the personalized attacks but it has been more generalized so far. He will sign a deal with the French, he will undo Brexit, he will rip apart our institutions. The guy’s a socialist, and there’s a real chance people will give him a free rein if they back Labour.”
A cabinet member
Another high-ranking Conservative added, “He needs to make it personal. I think he was very badly affected by D-Day but he needs to go after Starmer now… I don’t think there are any other options left.”
The party’s current strategy appears to be focused on damage control, with hopes to retain at least 140 seats. This scenario would still result in a significant Labour majority, but it would mitigate the scale of Conservative losses.
Shapps’s intervention follows comments from Penny Mordaunt, another prominent Conservative, and a potential leadership contender.
Mordaunt portrayed the party as the underdog and emphasized the importance of voter turnout.
“There are lots of pundits, and some politicians, saying it’s all a foregone conclusion. Of course, it’s not. It’s going to come down to what people do with their votes – and I’m fighting for my city, and I’m going to carry on fighting until the polls shut.”
Penny Mordaunt
As the election campaign enters its final stages, the Conservative Party is grappling with the stark reality of their position.
While maintaining a public front of determination, there is an evident shift towards managing expectations and preparing for a potential transition of power.
Shapps’s and Mordaunt’s remarks highlight the internal tensions and strategic debates within the party as they strive to galvanize support and mitigate potential losses.
Whether Sunak will adopt a more aggressive approach against Starmer remains to be seen, but the pressure from within his ranks is intensifying.
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