UK Tories powerless to escape Rishi Sunak’s death march

This sentiment was epitomized by a spokesperson for the Conservative Britain Alliance, a shadowy anti-Sunak movement, which announced at lunchtime the day of local election results: “We’re off to the pub,” suggesting that drowning their sorrows would be more worthwhile than plotting in response to the election rout.

Even those urging bold action or displays of passion from the PM seem to know deep down that none will come.

A series of potential moments to shift the dial — including some genuine surprises, such as Cameron’s re-entry at the top of government and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt trumpeting an ambition to abolish national insurance payments — have all come and gone without altering the polls. 

Sunak’s allies seek to portray his determination to stick doggedly to his plan in the face of noise on the back benches as a virtue. 

Harriett Baldwin, Conservative MP and chair of the Treasury select committee, told POLITICO it was time to “stop all this overhyped media speculation, unite behind the prime minister, and continue to deliver.”

William Hague, former Conservative leader and mentor to Sunak, called on the PM to resist kneejerk populist fixes and focus on building a vision for the longer-term future.