Tories believe Rishi is their secret weapon to beat Labour

ECONOMIC TURNAROUND

- Jonathan Walker

RISHI Sunak has been urged to conduct a presidential-style campaign in the run-up to the General Election and target Sir Keir Starmer's failings.

Tories remain firmly behind Labour in the polls but the gap between the parties narrows when voters are asked which of the two leaders they want as PM.

A Government source said: "Our offer will be about Rishi." The approach will be on display at the Conservative conference in Manchester next month, where Mr Sunak will take part in a town hall-style question and answer session as well as delivering the traditional leader's speech.

A source said: "The strategy is clear, because the Tory Party is tracking way below the Labour Party. So going head to head with Labour isn't going to cut it but Starmer and Rishi are level pegging in terms of leadership.

"So it stands to reason that any relaunch is going to show Rishi is at the centre of everything.

"The conference will be about Rishi, which is exactly the right answer.

"The context of the next election will be, 'Do you want the clearly better Prime Minister, Rishi, who is modern and a problem-solver in Number 10? Or are you so fed up with the Tories that you are going to junk him for a boring Remoaner Lefty who has no ideas and keeps on changing his position?’”

The Prime Minister will use a series of “moments” in the autumn – including the Conservative conference and King’s Speech – to set out new policies and his vision for Britain.