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3 months ago
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Rishi Sunak pulled out of a Tory candidate's campaign rally to try to shore up his own support instead, it has been claimed.
The Tory leader withdrew from the planned event on the day pollsters predicted that he would become the first sitting Prime Minister to lose his seat.
He was supposed to be campaigning to help former Olympic rower James Cracknell win votes in Colchester, Essex. But local Tories were told on the day that Mr Sunak was pulling out.
An insider said the change of plans was a 'knee-jerk reaction' to fears that even the PM's seat in North Yorkshire could be lost amid a Tory wipeout.
'It was all planned well in advance,' the source said, adding that the change of plan was 'because of the polls'.
Rishi Sunak withdrew from the planned event on the day pollsters predicted that he would become the first sitting Prime Minister to lose his seat. Pictured at a meeting with representatives of the nighttime economy in central London on Saturday
He was supposed to be campaigning to help former Olympic rower James Cracknell (pictured) win votes in Colchester, Essex. But local Tories were told on the day that Mr Sunak was pulling out
An insider said the change of plans was a 'knee-jerk reaction' to fears that even the PM's seat in North Yorkshire could be lost amid a Tory wipeout
Colchester was previously held by Tory Will Quince, who won a 9,423 majority in 2019.
A source close to the PM said claims he cancelled the event to defend his own seat were 'absolutely rubbish', adding: 'Plans move around all the time.'
The PM instead spent Wednesday visiting the Sizewell B nuclear plant in Suffolk with local candidate Therese Coffey, who is defending a 20,533 majority.
Mr Sunak then travelled to his constituency on Thursday and spent the night there after the Question Time debate in York.
On Friday he was in Wales to launch the Welsh manifesto.
Election night could bring a number of 'Portillo moments' – referring to the shock defeat of Defence Secretary Michael Portillo in Labour's 1997 landslide victory.
Cabinet 'big beasts' at risk include James Cleverly, Grant Shapps, Jeremy Hunt and Penny Mordaunt.
Mr Sunak – who won Richmond with a 27,210 majority in 2019, having replaced former Tory leader William Hague – has also faced criticism for pulling out of a fundraising party on Thursday at the last minute.
Some donors asked for refunds for their £1,500 tickets at a time when the party finances could do with a boost, as falling membership numbers have hit party coffers.
Senior Tories are calling for a 'complete overhaul' of the party machine after a campaign full of 'unforced errors'.
One insider said: 'They've let the side down. If they all end up in the House of Lords, there will be a real fuss.'
Priti: Leftie posties dumped my leaflets
Left-wing postal workers are accused of dumping thousands of Tory election leaflets.
Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel – who is defending a 24,000 majority in Witham, Essex – has written to Royal Mail about the failure to deliver her election addresses to voters.
Dame Priti Patel at Epsom
She is understood to be among a number of Conservative MPs who say their flyers have been dumped. The Royal Mail's delivery office in Colchester is known to be a hotbed of activity for the Communication Workers Union, which mounted strikes over pay in 2022.
In a letter to Royal Mail chief executive Emma Gilthorpe, Dame Priti's agent wrote: 'A number of our local Party members have not received their election addresses through Royal Mail from Dame Priti, yet have received an election address from the Labour Party candidate standing in the Witham constituency.
The letter added: 'I would be grateful if you could ensure that an immediate investigation is undertaken into this concerning situation.'
Royal Mail was contacted for comment.
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