The Conservative Party is facing mounting turmoil as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak struggles to contain internal rebellion over the Rwanda deportation legislation. Following a week of chaos in the Commons, Tory MPs returned to their constituencies to gauge voter sentiment, with many describing a party in irreversible decline. The government's flagship policy has exposed deep divisions, with former cabinet ministers Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick among 11 backbenchers voting to kill the bill, while over 60 supported amendments.
Despite the bleak outlook, some Conservative MPs see a narrow path to recovery. Martin Vickers, MP for Cleethorpes, said after speaking to constituents: 'All is not completely lost. People are disillusioned, but they don't want Starmer. Some will stay at home, but others will think better the devil you know. There is a path to victory, but it is a very narrow one.' John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, outlined three conditions for success: ending internal squabbling, an economic turnaround, and exposing Labour's lack of vision.
However, the mood at the World Economic Forum in Davos suggested a Labour government is widely anticipated. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves was feted by business leaders and finance ministers, with one aide noting: 'Everywhere she went people wanted to see her. They were saying good luck, we hope to see you next year.' Chancellor Jeremy Hunt arrived later to face questions about his Labour counterpart's prominence, while former Tory chancellor George Osborne remarked that Labour had 'grabbed the microphone for Britain' at the global gathering.
As Sunak's Rwanda bill heads to the House of Lords for further scrutiny, the Prime Minister faces a critical test in upcoming byelections and local polls in May. With apocalyptic opinion polls for the Tories, the sense of decay in the Commons has bordered on farce, leaving many to question whether the party can recover before the next general election.
