Rees-Mogg acknowledges backbench inflation concerns over Sunak

Jacob Rees-Mogg: Conservative Party has ‘no vision’

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned that the “thumping” the Conservative Party suffered at the local elections will be repeated at the general election unless certain changes are made. 

The former business secretary called for a new approach from the government on key issues because his party currently has “no vision”.

It comes after the Conservatives’ poor performance at the local elections last week, in which the party lost control of 10 councils and more than 470 council seats.

The party also lost 10 Police and Crime Commissioners to Labour and a further 10 mayoral races — including for the West Midlands mayoralty, a post previously held by Andy Street. 

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Rees-Mogg told GB News: “Last week’s election results were a thumping defeat for the Tories, and a warning of what is likely to follow at a general election”

“Although Labour under Keir Starmer is not as popular as New Labour under Blair, the electorate is wary of a Conservative Party that has no vision”.

He added: “All we seem to offer is an arguably competent management of the status quo, which the Labour Party seeks to mimic. Yet the status quo is not good enough. Public services are not of a satisfactory standard at the moment.”

In order to win support back ahead of a general election, Rees-Mogg urged his party to “show ourselves to be on the side of voters”. 

Alongside calling for more effective action on tackling immigration, he also said the “war on the motorist” must be stopped and the net zero drive delayed.

He said: “We must support our nation by being proud of its noble history and not giving in to those who hate Britain and all that we have achieved. We must not kowtow to the woke agenda or adjust our language to satisfy fanatics.

“In short, we must be conservative and show ourselves to be on the side of voters. Trust the people is a better slogan than Coalition of Chaos.”

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