'It pains me to see you all being let down by senior echelons of our party'

Priti targets Sunak in speech

- David Maddox

PRITI Patel will launch a scathing attack on Rishi Sunak's government today as angry Tory grassroots members gather in Bournemouth.

The former Home Secretary, a key ally of Boris Johnson when he was in No10, is the keynote speaker at the first major gathering of party activists since last year's conference.

It comes as discontent grows among MPs and members, a week after the party lost more than 1,000 seats and control of 40-plus councils in the local elections.

Ms Patel will tell the Conservative Democratic Organisation that they have been "let down" by Mr Sunak and Tory MPs in Westminster.

She will pin the blame on those who forced Mr Johnson out.

She will say: "Over the last year some colleagues in Westminster have let us down and have done a better job at damaging our party than the Opposition, Left-wing campaign groups, the Civil Service blob and our enemies in the media combined.

"They took down a vote-winning political giant who was on course to secure a record-breaking fifth consecutive general election win for our party. Our members are angered about what has happened and this has undermined the bonds of trust and the between our membership leadership of our party.

"Never again should the grassroots of our party be sidelined, neglected and ignored." Ms Patel and other speakers will highlight the poor results from the local elections.

Frustration