DESPAIRING Tory MPs have revived their demands for major tax cuts after a double by-election thumping.
Sir Keir Starmer insisted he could “see the summit” of power after the huge Labour wins.
PADespairing Tory MPs have revived their demands for major tax cuts after Rishi Sunak’s party suffered a double by-election thumping[/caption]
Sir Keir Starmer insisted he could ‘see the summit’ of power after the huge Labour winsReuters
Senior Conservatives now want the PM to reduce the 70-year high tax burden on households and businesses to try to stop the rot.
The losses plunged the party into the worst infighting since the ousting of Liz Truss as PM a year ago.
One minister described the mood as “turbo-dire” and another branded the results “a f***ing disaster”.
Polling experts predict a 1997-style wipeout at next year’s general election following vote swings of more than 20 per cent in Tamworth and Mid-Bedfordshire.
In both seats the hardline Reform party and LibDems ate into the Conservatives vote.
And many people who voted Tory in 2019 did not bother to turn out.
Ex-Cabinet minister John Redwood said: “Many people want the Government to stop the boats, improve the quality and efficiency of services and cut taxes to get some growth.”
MP Danny Kruger, a member of the New Conservatives group, added: “We need to be bolder on taxation.”
Another Tory MP told The Sun: “We need to cut taxes and stimulate growth. We need to get a proper grip of immigration. These are the big issues for Conservative voters.”
A Treasury source said: “The Prime Minister and Chancellor want to lower the personal tax burden as soon as they can, but our overriding priority right now has to be inflation reduction. It is by far the best tax cut we can give right now.”
The Tories have seen no real increase in their poll rating despite a policy blitz on Net Zero, revamping A levels and scrapping HS2.
There appears to be no appetite for a change in leader. But there are growing calls to move Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, whom Tory MPs have branded “Eeyore” after the downbeat donkey in Winnie-the-Pooh.
Yesterday, Labour leader Sir Keir raced to Mid Bedfordshire, held by the Tories since 1931, to greet new MP Alistair Strathern.
He hailed the result as a sign “people overwhelmingly want change” and said: “We are climbing that mountain, we can see the summit with these victories.” Shadow minister Peter Kyle, who headed Labour’s campaign in Mid-Beds, said the party had delivered a “political earthquake”.
The polls were triggered by Tory Nadine Dorries quitting in a row over being denied a peerage in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours. Chris Pincher resigned after he drunkenly groped two men at a club.
Last night, Ms Dorries blasted Rishi Sunak for a “damaging” blow, saying it could mark the end of the Tory party. On her TalkTV show she said: “Many now say it’s not just over for Rishi but for the party, too.”
Mr Sunak insisted: “It is important to remember mid-term elections are always difficult.”
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