[ad_1]
Rishi Sunak has insisted the Tories can still win the general election after one of his closest allies said a victory for the party is unlikely.
The prime minister tried to inject optimism into his campaign after Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said that to claim the Conservatives are on course for a win would be to “try and pretend black is white”.
In a sign he could be ramping up personal attacks as the election enters its final two weeks, Mr Sunak also accused Sir Keir Starmer of lacking “the courage of his convictions” and said his political rival would find running the country “hard to do well”.
Election latest: Farage challenged over spending plans in Reform’s ‘contract’
Asked during a huddle with journalists on the Tory battlebus about what he thought of his opponent, Mr Sunak said: “What I’d say is Keir Starmer is someone who clearly doesn’t have the courage of his convictions.
“I think it’s hard to do this job well if you don’t have convictions… and if you don’t have the courage of your convictions.”
Labour has an average 20-point lead in the polls – on 41% – ahead of the Tories on 21% and Reform on 15%.
Mr Sunak has reportedly been advised to “go for the jugular” and ramp up personalised attacks on Sir Keir in a bid to turn around his faltering campaign, pointing to his support for Jeremy Corbyn, his decision to campaign for a second referendum on Brexit and his work as a human rights lawyer.
There is growing pessimism within the Tory ranks as multiple polls suggest the Labour leader is on track for a landslide victory larger than what his predecessor Tony Blair achieved in 1997.
Earlier in the day, Mr Shapps said it is “possible to win the election”, but conceded it is “not the most likely outcome”.
[ad_2]
