ANGRY TORIES SAY ONLY TRUE BLUE VALUES CAN WOO BACK VOTES

Stay-at-home voters deliver double by-election defeat for Rishi

- Martyn Brown

FURIOUS Tory MPs demanded a return to true blue values in the hope the party can win back voters, after Labour snatched two by-elections.

They urged Rishi Sunak to slash taxes and to get a grip on illegal migration, to give the party a fighting chance at the general election. Tory MP Jonathan Gullis was among those calling for "common sense policies" to help restore voters' trust.

Some party members now fear a 1997-style wipeout as Sir Keir Starmer boasted he can emulate Tony Blair, after Labour took Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth from the Tories.

The jubilant Labour leader said he wanted to "follow in the footsteps" of the ex-PM following the stunning wins. But the loss of the once solid Tory strongholds triggered immediate Conservative demands for "far-reaching changes" to entice missing voters back.

Mr Gullis wrote in the Daily Express: "The by-elections show us that the Conservative voter base is dissatisfied with our track record but does not want a Labour government.

"The public are waiting for us to give them proper cause and reason to get out and vote for us. By introducing commonsense policies, we can achieve positive change for the common good."

Mission