Rishi Sunak's allies claim Downing Street's parties influenced how people voted in this year's local elections. Credit: PA
Boris Johnson's supporters dismiss claims that partygate helped defeat Conservatives in local elections.
Rishi Sunak said ahead of the vote that the Tories would lose seats due to 'box set drama' . that swept the party during the premierships of Mr. Johnson and Liz Truss.
On Friday morning, Transportation Secretary Hugh Merriman said voters were complaining to him about «old news about former prime ministers.»
p>'Sunak started chaos'
But one conservative source said, «Sunak cannot blame last year's chaos for these results.
“He started this chaos by stabbing the most successful Tory election winner in 50 years.”
“Sunak's claim that stability has been restored is untenable. These results could be catastrophic for the party and worse than before the change of leadership.»
David Campbell Bannerman, a former Conservative MEP and chair of the Conservative Democratic Organization pressure group, said voters were «very worried» . about what his party stood for.
On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: «I'm afraid it's a manual. I think the way we got rid of Boris, I spoke to a lot of people who regretted it on the doorstep. We are imposing taxes, the highest taxes in 70 years, and there is a price to pay, and we want to return to traditional conservative policies.
“We are not talking about the “return of Boris”, by the way, we are talking about party democracy. But it is true that many of our members still love and appreciate Boris, as do many of the public, and given the magnitude of the challenges ahead, we should not rule this out as an option in the long term. ."
Sir John Redwood, a former Cabinet Minister, said: “Many former Conservative voters have stayed at home to protest high taxes, lack of control over our borders and too many local and national state intervention in their lives.
“If the Prime Minister wants to bring back the lost Conservative voters, he should try to come up with some Conservative strategies. Cut taxes, make public spending more efficient, and aim for growth.”
Johnson and Truss 'of course' blame
Mr Merriman told the BBC on Friday morning that Mr Johnson and Ms Truss were responsible for the Conservatives' losses.
“When I spoke to my voters on the doorstep yesterday, they were talking about old news about former prime ministers, but it seems necessary to say that your current leader is,” he said.
" It seems to make a difference for us, but it is an opportunity for the electorate to vote for where we used to be"
When asked if it was Mr Johnson and Ms Truss, Mr Mr. Merriman said: “Of course, on the doorstep I got feedback that we are in a better place. This is also shown by polls. People are reacting more positively to Rishi Sunak"
The Prime Minister made similar comments at an event hosted by the Onward think tank on Wednesday evening.
He said «good advisers» will lose his seats because of «everything that has happened over the past year», but spoke with an optimistic tone, looking to the future.
«I was prime minister for only six months, but I believe that we have achieved good progress,” he said. “Just think about where we were then and where we are now.
“Our economy is in much better shape. Our politics is no longer like a theatrical drama. And our friends and our allies know we're back.»
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