Tory civil war: Grassroots Conservatives call for Sunak to be OUSTED in leaked messages

Rishi Sunak

Grassroots Conservative members have called for Rishi Sunak to be ousted, leaked WhatsApps have shown

PA
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 30/09/2023

- 17:28

Updated: 30/09/2023

- 23:41

The leaked messages show significant anger at Sunak, with many members of the WhatsApp group feeling little hope of an election victory next year

Grassroots Conservative members have called for Rishi Sunak to be ousted, leaked WhatsApps have shown.

Members of the Conservative Democratic Organisation threatened to "go to war" with the Liberal wing of the party, on the eve of Sunak's first party conference.


The CDO was founded in 2022 by Johnson-backer Lord Peter Cruddas after the removal of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

It is made up of right-wing party members, backed by influential Conservatives such as Priti Patel.

The leaked messages, obtained by Sky News, show significant anger at Sunak from its members, with many showing little hope of an election victory next year.

The revelations come on the eve of the party's conference, taking place in Manchester this week.

One Whatsapp message read: "It's time to go to war … unfortunately it's with the liberals in our party. Needs to be done we need the party back."

The activist added: "Listening to my local party's WhatsApp broadcast it's like the last days of Rome… carrying on with the same old policies that have lost year after year.

"Ignoring actual Conservatives and a Conservative message… preferring to appear liberal to appease the middle class liberal climate guilt voters…

"Personally I can't see past the cowardice…. I'm pretty sure that's all the public see too."

Another member mocked Sunak, comparing him to a "doorknob", while another described him as "uninspiring".

They added that the Government "can't get anything right".

The messages show that members of the CDO believe Sunak, who voted to leave the EU, is governing "like a Remainer".

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Rishi Sunak

The leaked messages, obtained by Sky News, show significant anger at Sunak from its members, with many showing little hope of an election victory next year

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The activists touted alternative prime ministers, with one activist asking if GB News Journalist Tom Harwood is a Conservative.

They added: "If he is, he would make an ideal Prime Minister".

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