PA MediaThe general election is “highly likely” to produce the largest majority in British history for Labour, a Conservative cabinet minister has said.
In comments which all but conceded the election, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said he had “accepted where the polls are”, which suggested “tomorrow is likely to see the largest Labour landslide majority”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Stride said Labour’s victory could surpass the 492-seat majority won by the coalition National Government in 1931.
He added: “What therefore matters now is what kind of opposition do we have? What kind of ability to scrutinise government?”
Mr Stride becomes the second senior Conservative in 24 hours to publicly admit the likelihood of defeat.
Former home secretary Suella Braverman wrote in the Telegraph newspaper on Wednesday that the election is “over” and that the Conservatives “need to prepare for the reality and frustration of opposition”.
Ms Braveman predicted a post-election “fight for the soul of the Conservative Party” – one, she says, that will decide whether it continues to exist at all.
Ms Braverman, a frequent critic of the prime minister, has been touted as a potential Conservative leader after Rishi Sunak.
Mr Stride’s comments suggest the Conservatives now think warning of a Labour victory will sway undecided voters more effectively than arguing in support of the Tory record.
And it follows a last-minute appearance on the campaign trail from former PM Boris Johnson, who was greeted with applause and cheers when he joined one of the campaign’s final events on Tuesday night.
He told the crowd at the London event that: “When Rishi asked me to come and help of course I couldn’t say no”, and said a Labour government would increase taxes and would not stand up to Vladimir Putin.
Labour’s election coordinator Pat McFadden tried to downplay the idea of a landslide victory for his party – telling the BBC “nothing is decided about this election, change will only come if people go and vote for it”.
Mr McFadden said his party wanted a majority to “roll up our sleeves and get on” with their manifesto pledges.
Pressed on whether Labour’s claim that homeowners will pay £4,800 more on mortgages if the Conservatives win the election – which BBC Verify has found to be misleading – had hurt trust in politics, Mr McFadden said he was “proud of our campaign”.
He said the claim, based on questionable assumptions, revealed the Conservatives’ unfunded promises and “a gulf between the two manifestos”, Mr McFadden said.
Labour “took pains not to over promise to recognise the economic realities,” while the Conservatives “is just the latest instalment of what we saw from Liz Truss two years ago,” he added.
