Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, has dismissed calls to alter his party’s approach after a disappointing showing in the recent local elections, asserting that he can still win over voters ahead of the next general election. Sunak described the loss of over 470 councillors as “bitterly disappointing” but insisted he could lead the Conservatives to victory with enough time and effort.
Critics within the Conservative Party have urged Sunak to pivot further to the right in response to the losses, but he has instead called for unity. In an interview with The Times, Sunak stated, “I am determined that we will come together as a party.” He also suggested that Labour’s gains might lead to a hung parliament, with Labour as the largest party, warning that a coalition with the Scottish National Party (SNP), Liberal Democrats, and Greens could spell “disaster for Britain.”
The Conservatives’ poor performance in the local elections saw them lose control of 10 councils and, perhaps most notably, the West Midlands mayoral position to Labour’s Andy Street. The defeat has sparked internal party debates about the path forward, with some members urging Sunak to embrace more right-wing policies, while others argue that the Conservatives need a broader approach to regain voter trust.
Suella Braverman, a former Home Secretary and frequent critic of Sunak, called for a shift toward more right-wing policies, saying that the local election results were a “terrible” outcome for the party. She highlighted the need to focus on issues like immigration and national security to re-engage with traditional Tory voters.
However, Damian Green, chairman of the centrist One Nation Group of Conservative MPs, pushed back against this approach, noting that many of the seats the party lost were to parties on the left, suggesting a hard shift to the right might not resonate with the broader electorate.
Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden also urged party members to focus on a “clear vision for the country” rather than turning inward and debating amongst themselves. He emphasized the need for the Conservatives to demonstrate they are delivering results for the British people.
Meanwhile, Labour leaders have been celebrating their success in the local elections, with Pat McFadden, Labour’s election co-ordinator, saying there’s a new “sense of belief” within the party. He pointed to Labour’s unexpected win in the West Midlands as evidence of the party’s growing momentum.
As the Conservative Party grapples with its future direction, Sunak remains committed to his current course, despite the increasing pressure from within his party to adopt more hardline policies. With a general election expected in the second half of this year, time is running out for Sunak to make his case to the electorate.
