Senior Tories fear there is a "real prospect" of the party being replaced by Nigel Farage's Reform UK with Britain heading for a "pivotal moment" in politics.
Former Brexit minister David Jones has issued a stark warning to his party that it must earn the backing of voters across the country after suffering its worst result at the ballot box last month in over 100 years.
With the Conservatives in the middle of a drawn-out contest to find a replacement for Rishi Sunak, the veteran politician urged those running for Tory leader to be "alert to the danger" posed by Reform.
He told the Sunday Express: "Nigel Farage understands that local voluntary associations and a strong councillor network are the bedrock of any successful political party.
Nigel Farage is on a recruitment drive for Reform UKPA"This was something that the Conservative party used to understand, too, but the sad fact is that its membership has been in decline for many years.
"There is now a real prospect of Reform overtaking the Conservatives as the principal centre-right political force in this country.
"It had an outstanding success in the general election, attracting over four million votes."
His intervention comes as Farage looks to restructure Reform UK to make it more democratic and give it a more visible grassroots presence across the country.
Former minister David Jones warned his party must win the trust of voters its the general election drumming
PAThe newly-elected MP has launched a recruitment drive for 2,500 candidates to stand for his party in next May's local elections.
He is looking to create "hundreds of associations" across the UK with the election of local councillors paving the way for "hundreds more MPs" in five years time.
Farage said: "Our party is on the verge of serious restructuring and expansion, we are looking to create hundreds of associations in the near future right across the country."
Jones warned that the recruitment drive risked forcing some Tory members to make a choice on whether to stick with the Conservatives or switch to Reform.
Nigel Farage is restructuring the Reform party in a bid to boost its electoral chances going forwards
PAHe said: "The new recruitment campaign may well see many former Conservative members deciding that their political future lies with Reform.
"This could well prove to be a pivotal moment in British politics.
"The Conservative party should be alert to the danger. No party can assume it has a God-given right to voters’ support.
“That support has to be earned and Reform is clearly hungry to earn it."
