"Tories can still win this election'

TORY chairman Richard Holden insists the Conservatives are still “100 per cent” capable of winning the General Election.

- David Williamson

He says a full-throttle campaign is being prepared which will see Rishi Sunak “knock the socks off Sleepy Starmer”.

His defiant declaration comes as fears grow among Labour activists that their poll lead could collapse and they may end up “way short of an overall majority”.

One MP privately admitted that he viewed Sir Keir as a “charisma-free zone”.

Tories believe that clear and “cavernous” dividing lines which are opening up between the two parties will play into their hands.

Key issues include tax, immigration, benefit reforms and defence.

Mr Holden warned it would be “batty” to ditch the Tories in favour of Reform UK, but voters must “realise that if they don’t vote Conservative then they are going to end up with a Labour Government”.

He pointed to dismay when Tory Andy Street lost the West Midlands mayoralty by only 1,508 votes as 34,471 people backed Reform. The party chairman also gave a stern warning that disunity could kill off any Conservative chances of staying in power. “People do not vote for divided parties,” he said. Meanwhile, Labour has emailed supporters to alert them they could wake up the day after the election and find the Conservatives have won “another five years in power”. The email states this is “what is at risk this year”.