Sunak Strikes Optimistic Tone Amid Tory Doubts as Election Nears Critical Phase

Sunak remains confident in Conservative victory despite minister's loss prediction

The Prime Minister aimed to boost morale within his campaign following Grant Shapps' admission that asserting a Tory victory would be akin to denying the obvious truth.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, June 17, 2024, at 10

Rishi Sunak remains confident that the Conservatives can secure a win in the upcoming general election, despite a prominent supporter expressing doubts about the party's chances of success.

The prime minister attempted to bring a positive spin to his campaign following comments from Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who stated that asserting the Conservatives are headed for a victory would be akin to "trying to pretend that black is white."

As the election approaches its last fortnight, Mr. Sunak seems to be intensifying his personal criticisms. He charged Sir Keir Starmer with not having "the courage of his convictions" and claimed that his opponent would struggle with effectively governing the nation.

During an impromptu press gathering on the Conservative campaign bus, when questioned about his views on his rival, Mr. Sunak remarked, "What I'd say is that Keir Starmer evidently lacks the conviction to stand firm on his beliefs."

"Successfully executing this role requires firm beliefs and the bravery to stand by them."

Recent updates on the election: Farage faces scrutiny regarding financial strategies in Reform's 'contract'

The Labour Party is currently leading in the polls with an average advantage of 20 points, scoring 41%, while the Conservatives are trailing at 21% and the Reform Party at 15%.

It is said that advisors are urging Mr. Sunak to intensify his direct criticisms of Sir Keir, focusing on his previous endorsement of Jeremy Corbyn, his advocacy for a second Brexit referendum, and his background as a human rights attorney, as a strategy to rejuvenate his struggling campaign.

Concern is mounting among Conservative members as various surveys indicate that the Labour Party leader may secure an even more significant electoral win than Tony Blair did in 1997.

This morning, Mr. Shapps acknowledged that winning the election is "possible," though he admitted it's "not the most likely outcome."

When questioned about the possibility of a Conservative win, he answered, "I believe that's the sensible viewpoint, right? I reside in reality. So let's not fool ourselves into seeing things that aren't there."

Mr. Shapps is one of the Conservative members cautioning about the risks of a Labour "supermajority," as part of an effort to persuade longstanding Conservative supporters to remain loyal.

However, Mr. Sunak adopted a more optimistic tone during his afternoon tour of a Centrica gas rig.

He stated: "With still over two weeks left until the election concludes, I am diligently campaigning for each vote, convinced that victory is within our reach."

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When questioned about his awareness of the public's dissatisfaction with the Conservative Party, leading some voters to shift their allegiance to Reform UK, he responded, "Absolutely, I recognize the frustrations people have – it's unmistakable, and I've consistently acknowledged our progress, though we still have further steps to take.

"The focus currently is that we are headed in the right direction, and this election concerns what's ahead."

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The Conservative Party is confronted with a challenge from the right as Nigel Farage made a surprising comeback to active politics, taking the helm of Reform UK.

Last week, his party surpassed the Conservatives in a YouGov poll for The Times for the first time, although the Tories maintain an average lead of seven points over Reform.

Today, Mr. Farage conceded that Reform UK will not secure a government following the July 4th elections. However, he emphasized that this election campaign marks the beginning of a journey that could lead to a victory in the 2029 elections.

Further reading: Progressive contender withdraws after remarks about BNP; SNP asserts their manifesto is the most left-leaning in the election.

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During the unveiling of his party’s pledge to the electorate, Mr. Farage stated, "We aim to secure a foothold in Parliament and position ourselves as the genuine challengers to a Labour government."

He claimed that the Conservatives would fail to effectively oppose as they are "often caught up in internal disputes and deeply divided over policy issues."

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Reform's key proposal to the electorate is a four-part strategy aimed at reducing immigration. This plan involves withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Human Rights and deporting individuals who arrive by boat back to France.

Mr. Sunak has consistently stated that supporting Mr. Farage's party is essentially giving Labour a free pass.

Sir Keir described the personal criticisms aimed at him as "desperate," suggesting they were the only tactics remaining for the Tories after 14 years in power.

He informed the press, "If they had any successful achievements, they would spend the last two weeks showcasing their accomplishments. However, they have no such achievements to present, and if they claimed they performed excellently, people would find it humorous."

"The situation is critical."

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