Rishi Sunak plays down election 'wipe out' poll findings

       Dame Andrea Jenkyns called on Tory MPs to submit letters of no confidence in Rishi Sunak as she warned the party has "nothing to lose".

       The former minister insisted the Prime Minister will not lead the Conservatives to victory at the next general election.

       Dame Andrea, who sent her own letter in November, urged colleagues to follow suit in a "last-ditch attempt" to turn fortunes around.

       The close Boris Johnson ally told the Express: "I put in my letter in November, this has been coming a while now. He's not going to win us an election, we're walking into a Labour victory.

       "And I fear that, the changing of the voting age, it's going to be hard to get any form of Conservative government in office again when they do stuff like that.

       Dame Andrea Jenkyns warned the Tories have 'nothing to lose' (Image: GETTY)

       Trending

       "I think he's not going to win us an election, wake up and smell the coffee, let's get a new leader, last-ditch attempt because we've got nothing to lose now.

       "It's been a difficult few years and some people are saying we can't have yet another change in party leader. Obviously we shouldn't have got rid of the others in the first place. However, we are where we are.

       "Under Rishi Sunak we cannot win a majority, lots of people are going to lose their seats across the country even in safe Conservative seats.

       "So the simple message is if we want to stop the socialists getting in and the likes of Starmer who twice backed Corbyn to get into Number 10 let's get a new leader. That's the only way to save our party and save our country."

       Dame Andrea's comments come after dire polling suggested the Tories could be on course for a 1997-style wipeout at the next general election.

       The YouGov survey of 14,000 people, reported by The Telegraph, indicated that Mr Sunak's party could be down to just 169 seats, with Sir Keir Starmer entering Downing Street with 385.

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Liz Truss leads new drive to save Tories from Nigel Farage

       1706 Comments

       Nigel Farage rages Rishi Sunak needs to be 'taught unforgettable lesson' in bitter row

       1141 Comments

       POLL: Should Ed Davey hand back his knighthood?

       101 Comments

       'Here's the truth of it': Nigel Farage makes dire Labour general election prediction

       1731 Comments

       Rishi Sunak hints tax cuts could be funded by 'difficult decisions' on welfare

       464 Comments

       Top pollster pinpoints major clue Rishi Sunak has given away exact general election date

       45 Comments

       Lee Anderson's fury as Labour targets primary school children for 'indoctrination' lessons

       143 Comments

       Who is Morgan McSweeney? Keir Starmer's election guru you've never heard of

       22 Comments

       Rachel Reeves 'caught lying' over Tory tax rise claims

       1153 Comments

       Post Office scandal proves only Nigel Farage can save 'broken Britain', says Arron Banks

       92 Comments

       Rishi Sunak in last-minute crisis talks to stop Lee Anderson from quitting over Rwanda

       324 Comments

       Nigel Farage drops strongest hint yet of political comeback after bombshell poll

       1032 Comments

       Exact date set for Rishi Sunak's double by-election nightmare

       71 Comments

       Rishi Sunak has taken decisive action - he has 10 months to convince voters he should stay

       45 Comments

       Penny Mordaunt and Lee Anderson among Tory big beasts facing losing seats - poll

       746 Comments

       Tory rebels will only decide whether to torpedo Rwanda Bill just hours before final vote

       80 Comments

       POLL: When should Rishi Sunak call a general election? Vote here

       317 Comments

       Tories face 'worst election since 1997' as new poll reveals huge Labour majority

       1125 Comments

       Labour MP issues damning verdict on Sir Keir Starmer's readiness to be PM

       234 Comments

       Rishi Sunak's nightmare start to election year with first poll confirming Tory wipeout

       152 Comments

       Liz Truss leads new drive to save Tories from Nigel Farage

       1706 Comments

       Nigel Farage rages Rishi Sunak needs to be 'taught unforgettable lesson' in bitter row

       1141 Comments

       POLL: Should Ed Davey hand back his knighthood?

       101 Comments

       'Here's the truth of it': Nigel Farage makes dire Labour general election prediction

       1731 Comments

       Rishi Sunak hints tax cuts could be funded by 'difficult decisions' on welfare

       464 Comments

       Top pollster pinpoints major clue Rishi Sunak has given away exact general election date

       45 Comments

       Lee Anderson's fury as Labour targets primary school children for 'indoctrination' lessons

       143 Comments

       Who is Morgan McSweeney? Keir Starmer's election guru you've never heard of

       22 Comments

       Rachel Reeves 'caught lying' over Tory tax rise claims

       1153 Comments

       Post Office scandal proves only Nigel Farage can save 'broken Britain', says Arron Banks

       92 Comments

       Rishi Sunak in last-minute crisis talks to stop Lee Anderson from quitting over Rwanda

       324 Comments

       Nigel Farage drops strongest hint yet of political comeback after bombshell poll

       1032 Comments

       Exact date set for Rishi Sunak's double by-election nightmare

       71 Comments

       Rishi Sunak has taken decisive action - he has 10 months to convince voters he should stay

       45 Comments

       Penny Mordaunt and Lee Anderson among Tory big beasts facing losing seats - poll

       746 Comments

       Tory rebels will only decide whether to torpedo Rwanda Bill just hours before final vote

       80 Comments

       POLL: When should Rishi Sunak call a general election? Vote here

       317 Comments

       Tories face 'worst election since 1997' as new poll reveals huge Labour majority

       1125 Comments

       Labour MP issues damning verdict on Sir Keir Starmer's readiness to be PM

       234 Comments

       Rishi Sunak's nightmare start to election year with first poll confirming Tory wipeout

       152 Comments

       Liz Truss leads new drive to save Tories from Nigel Farage

       1706 Comments

       Nigel Farage rages Rishi Sunak needs to be 'taught unforgettable lesson' in bitter row

       1141 Comments

       POLL: Should Ed Davey hand back his knighthood?

       101 Comments

       'Here's the truth of it': Nigel Farage makes dire Labour general election prediction

       1731 Comments

       Rishi Sunak hints tax cuts could be funded by 'difficult decisions' on welfare

       464 Comments

       Top pollster pinpoints major clue Rishi Sunak has given away exact general election date

       45 Comments

       Lee Anderson's fury as Labour targets primary school children for 'indoctrination' lessons

       143 Comments

       But the Prime Minister, who is facing deep divisions within his party as the Rwanda Bill returns to the Commons this week, insisted the only poll that matters "is the one when the general election comes".

       He said: "There have been lots of polls over the last year, there will be hundreds more polls.

       "The choice at that election is clear, it's stick with our plan that is working, it's delivering change for people, ensuring they can have the peace of mind that there is a brighter future for their children and we can have renewed pride in our country."

       Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading

       Start 30-day

       FREE trial

       Related articles Keir Starmer rows back on another leadership pledge in Laura Kuenssberg grilling Nigel Farage drops strongest hint yet of political comeback after bombshell poll Penny Mordaunt and Lee Anderson among Tory big beasts facing losing seats