Warnings to Reform Voters Issued by Tories Ahead of General Election

A former Tory minister insisted the party was the “natural home for reform voters” as leadership hopefuls jockeyed for position ahead of the general election. Robert Jenrick also said former prime minister Boris Johnson “must always have a seat” in the Tories, including in Parliament, if he wants one.

Mr Jenrick, who last served in government as immigration minister, later denied firing the first shot in the race to replace Rishi Sunak should the prime minister lead the Tories to defeat on July 4.

Elsewhere, Home Secretary James Cleverly said he was focused on “getting me and their colleagues re-elected” as he failed to rule out a bid for the top job should it become available.

Former Tory home secretary Dame Priti Patel also pushed for lower taxes in a rallying cry to voters in The Sunday Telegraph.

READ MORE: ‘The writing is on the wall for London’s Tories, but there’s a glimmer of blue hope’

Labour’s poll lead over the Tories remains around 20 points.

Some polls have suggested that Labor could be on course for a strong majority that puts previously safe Tory seats at risk.

Mr Jenrick, the Tory candidate for Newark, who held the seat in 2019 with a majority of 21,816, said the government had “taken its time” but was “now turning around” in its efforts to reduce net migration.

Turning to the Reform UK leader, Mr Jenrick wrote in The Mail On Sunday: “Although I strongly disagree with Nigel Farage that the West provoked Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine, I have a lot of respect for him. He speaks for his concerns. millions of people, but he does not ask to rule the country.

“Instead, he wants to be the official opposition. And yet he knows he can’t even do that because he will only have a handful of MPs at best. The Conservative family has always been and must continue to be a natural. home for reform voters who share our concerns.

“We need to build a coalition of voters and put forward policies that solve people’s problems, whether it’s about migration, public service reform, the cost of living or housing.”

Mr Jenrick argued that a vote for Reform or Labor “risks a one-party state”, adding: “That’s why we need the best talents of the Conservative Party working together and why I know Boris Johnson has supported fellow Tories before voting day. .

“He will always have a special place in the history of our party and country as the leader who made Brexit happen. He is, of course, a unique campaigner and must always have a seat in the Conservative Party, including in Parliament, if he ever wants to have one.”

Mr Jenrick, who appeared on Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, was told his article read as a first chance in the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.

He replied, “Well, not Trevor. I am here today because I care passionately about the Conservative Party and want it to get the best possible result at the general election and I have spent weeks knocking on doors in north Nottinghamshire. and share the values ​​and concerns of reform voters.

“But I’m here to warn them that if they vote for anyone other than a Conservative at this general election, they risk, because of our electoral system, a Labor supermajority.”

Appearing on the same programme, Mr Cleverly was asked if he was up for the challenge of being the next Tory leader.

He replied: “I said I was focusing on myself and my re-elected colleagues.”

Mr Cleverly said he wanted to make sure the party had enough MPs to form a Tory majority, adding: “If that’s not the case then we will deal with the circumstances as we find that, we want to make sure that if we do . we have to hold the Labor Party to account, we will.

“But look, my instinct is that the Leader of the Opposition and I know that what you’re implying is not a job that people should aspire to, being in government is a job that people aspire to.”

Dame Priti, who is seeking re-election for Witham in Essex, pushed for lower taxes in a rallying cry to voters.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Dame Priti said: “We are an unabashedly pro-business party that believes in promoting the low-tax environment that the nation’s entrepreneurs and wealth creators need to thrive and succeed.”

Dame Priti, who held the seat in 2019 with a majority of 24,082, added: “The Conservatives want to give business and enterprise the freedom to flourish and unleash the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit, which is why so many of us are campaigning energetically for lower taxes and less red tape. .”