Election is not lost, says Tory election chief
The Conservative Party’s campaign director has rejected claims that the party is resigned to losing the next general election.
The Times newspaper had claimed that Australian Lynton Crosby has told the party they are so behind in the polls that there is no foreseeable chance of winning back power at the election, expected in May this year.
But, in a statement last night, Mr Crosby said there was “absolutely no truth” in rumours he advised the Tory leadership to focus attention on increasing the number of seats in the Commons by 25 to 30.
“I have never had any such conversation with Michael Howard and I do not hold that view,” the strategist said in a statement.
“The Conservative Party has been making an impact on the issues of lower tax and controlled immigration over the past week, and the Labour party will be wanting to do all they can to distract attention away from the issues that really matter to people,” he said.
Mr Crosby – appointed the Tories’ elections chief three months ago – helped Australian prime minister John Howard to win four elections.
The party will be hoping that the story does not detract from Mr Howard’s weekend bid to win back voters disillusioned with Labour’s policy immigration and asylum.
