Rishi Sunak has been issued a stark warning by his own MPs following a historic double by-election defeat last night.
MPs and party insiders have demanded the PM act now to introduce fresh policies and respond to voters, warning that without "big changes" the party has "no chance".
Labour won by-elections in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth last night, seats which had Conservative majorities of 24,500 and 19,000 respectively.
Sir Keir Starmer said the results show that his party is "redrawing the political map”, adding: “Winning in these Tory strongholds shows that people overwhelmingly want change, and they’re ready to put their faith into our changed Labour Party to deliver it.”
WATCH: Conservative Chairman Greg Hands reacts to double by-election loss
But a former minister told GB News that the defeats are a result of Sunak's failure to "connect with the electorate", demanding the Government "be bold and go for growth".
When asked who is to blame, he said: "We are led by a nice, good man, who sadly is struggling to connect with the electorate.
"We have also been unfortunate in being in power at the time of the pandemic and the consequent economic damage.
"Jeremy Hunt has the power to turn things round, but he needs to be bold and go for growth."
Senior Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood blamed "open tribal party politics" for the defeat, telling GB News it deterred "moderate Conservatives and floating voters".
He called for "unity" behind a "moderate message" to retain seats at a General Election.
Ellwood said: "Open tribal party politics (so vividly illustrated at the Conservative Party Conference) continues to deter moderate Conservatives and floating voters from supporting us.
"Holding the centre-right ground in British politics is fundamental for any Tory party to secure electoral success.If we appeal solely to our party base and the right - we will lose right to govern.
"After the chaos of the last few years, Sunak is pursuing a more moderate message - the more we are united-the more seats we retain at the next election."
Another MP in a Red Wall constituency said the Government needs to clamp down on migration and introduce tax cuts to really benefit working people.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns called for the Government to introduce "far-reaching major changes now" in order to pull back support before a general election.
Writing on X, she said: "Voter apathy is evident yet again in both the by-elections, low turnout - 20,000 failed to turnout in Tamworth, 24,000 failed to turnout in Mid Beds since the last election.
"We need to make far-reaching major changes now to instill confidence in the Conservative voters."
A Conservative Party insider agreed, telling GB News that the devastating by-election results might finally show the party that "big change is needed" or it has "no chance" at the next election.
Speaking about the result, they said: "This will send shockwaves across the party.
"The older or more experienced MPs have been saying this is coming but [MPs elected in 2019] continue to put their head in the sand. This is what happens when you stay in bunker mode and surround yourself with one side of the party."
The insider added: "This could be a blessing in disguise. Many newbies have been in complete denial and surviving Uxbridge didn’t help this.
"Finally, they can wake up to the fact that big change is needed or they have no chance."
While party chairman Greg Hands has dismissed the outcome as being the result of low turnout, former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost hit back, saying: "The Tamworth & Mid-Beds by-elections are extremely bad for my party, and I don't think it helps to suggest otherwise, as some party figures have done this morning."
Writing on X, he added: "The current national polls are dreadful for us but these results are even worse.
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Labour won by-elections in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth last night, seats which had Conservative majorities of 24,500 and 19,000 respectively
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"The very worst current polls show us holding 100-150 seats at an election. But Tamworth is our 55th safest seat.
"Yes, things are different at by-elections and there were probably special factors. But these results show that the national polls are broadly correct and that a strategy of denial is unlikely to work.
"If your voters don't want to come out and vote for you then you don't win elections. It's as simple as that."
