DON'T WRITE US OFF! TORIES PLAN FOR ELECTION BATTLE

New Tory chair Richard Holden will put party on 'war footing' from January

- Sam Lister

RISHI Sunak can call a snap election any time he wants next year as the party goes on a "war footing", the new Tory chairman has revealed.

In his first interview since being appointed, Richard Holden refused to be downbeat about Tory prospects and insisted an historic fifth term is "within our grasp".

Mr Holden, inset, said the Prime Minister has shown that he is on the side of Daily Express readers by sticking with the pension triple lock, introducing tax cuts and clamping down on benefit cheats. A lot of undecided voters are still up for grabs and the Tories believe that there is little appetite among this group to support Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Mr Holden vowed to do everything possible to keep all the Red Wall seats his party won in 2019, including his in North West Durham, and to make gains.

He insisted to the Daily Express: "It's about the enthusiasm for the challenge ahead. I think that the fifth General Election victory is really within our grasp, which will be history making."

Anticipation of a spring poll grew after last month's tax cuts. Mr Holden said: "We have to be ready for whenever the Prime Minister wants to go for the election in the New Year."

He admitted that winning would be tough but insisted: "Nothing is impossible. This is the oldest political party in the world." Mr Holden said he is convinced that when voters choose between Sir Keir and Mr Sunak they will back the Tories.