Where do the Tories go now? Kevin Foster outlines how Sunak CAN defy polling
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the General Election would take place on July 4
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In just two weeks, the General Election will be over and the results in. No-one would deny it looking like there is a massive hill for the Conservatives to climb, some will even argue Sir Keir Starmer might as well pop round Number 10 now to measure up for his new curtains. Yet this does not tell the full story.
Many voters are still undecided, with Labour well ahead, but starting to slip back in numbers, a bit more and they will be back in 30 per cents, a score at which they could be overtaken.
So how should Conservatives go forward to take advantage?
1. Grab the attention of voters disillusioned and unsure with policies they want to support. Publish what the King’s Speech will be in July if it’s delivered under a Conservative Government.
Bold moves on promoting growth, supporting our forces, dealing with crime, creating more domestic energy supplies, getting people into work, tackling immigration and the primacy of our law over the ECHR, including replacing membership of it with a codified set of rights ruled on by our own judges.
Not just vague manifesto commitments to do something, a clearly Conservative and hearty “Oven Ready” plan for Government, just needing you to hit the Conservative Button! This will speak to those thinking of Reform or abstaining, giving them something to vote for on 4th July.
2. Remind voters of what happened the last time Labour got a supermajority.
Just saying it would be bad for democracy if Labour got a supermajority like they did in 1997 will be met with the question: Why? Give examples of how items of legislation and actions, including the Iraq War and not implementing transitional controls on migration from Eastern Europe in 2004, stemmed from a feeling of being “invincible” due to having a weaker opposition bench.
Then make clear how this will allow Labour to do something which undermines totally the argument the Conservative Party can lose this time, but then come back next time in a different form or under new, more Boris like, leadership.
3. Labour’s plan to change the franchise for elections Whilst much attention has been drawn to the prospect of 16- & 17-year-olds voting, the likely turnout and an aging society overall means this is not going to change elections fundamentally.
Yet one potential change, which sounds technical and will be presented as such if Labour\Lib Dems can ram it through, is much more fundamental: Extending the Parliamentary Franchise to all legal residents.
This would mean a very different electorate in future, one which is unlikely to be more favourable to the arguments of those who vote Reform or Conservative this time, and like we have seen with other changes pushed through by the last Labour Supermajority, near impossible to unpick later even if Conservatives do come into power.
We have just under 4 weeks left, but many voters are still undecided and unenthused.
Get their attention, show we can deliver on what they care about with a firm plan they can vote for. Then highlight the folly of thinking it “won’t matter” if the Conservatives are “destroyed” this time, they can come back next.
If we do this, we can still go forward to a result which may surprise many.