Boris Johnson comes to the rescue of the Conservatives in the face of probable electoral defeat

The conservatives, in a desperate attempt to add votes in the British elections on Thursday against the Labour Party, which the polls predict a clear victory, received on Tuesday the support of the former head of government Boris Johnson, in his first appearance of the campaign.

The Conservatives and their current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, who is running to remain in office, seem to have accepted and admitted defeat, making statements in recent days in which they talk about avoiding an absolute majority for Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.

“If they really want higher taxes, (…) if they want uncontrolled immigration and if they want to unnecessarily bow to Brussels (European Union)vote Labour on Thursday,” Johnson said at a final campaign rally for Sunak on Tuesday evening in London.

The former prime minister, who never had a great relationship with Sunak, according to the British press, asked for a vote for his party colleague, trying to avoid a Conservative debacle.

“If you want to protect our democracy and our economy and keep this country strong abroad (…) then you know what to do, vote Conservative on Thursday,” the former prime minister added.

“United conservative family”

Johnson, one of five Conservative prime ministers in the 14 years they have been in power, is a strong figure among Tory voters, many of whom might opt ​​for a Labour Party that has shifted to the centre under Starmer or for Nigel Farage’s far-right Reform UK party.

Head of the Conservative executive since 2019, Johnson was forced to resign in 2022 after being embroiled in a number of scandals, including parties at the Prime Minister’s official residence in the midst of the Covid pandemic.

“Isn’t it great that our conservative family is together?”said Rishi Sunak, the third prime minister in just two years, at the event.

The Conservative Party, embroiled in internal struggles and mired in a deep crisis, has been trying in recent days to gather votes to avoid a historic defeat.

Brexit in 2020 and its consequences for the British economy, Covid and the rising cost of living seem to nullify any chance of a Conservative victory.

“It is over. We must prepare ourselves for the reality and frustration of being in opposition,” wrote former Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman in the Daily Telegraph. “Thursday’s vote is now about getting a strong enough opposition.” he added.

Conservative pessimism

Pessimism has taken hold of the Conservatives these days, as they try to minimize their defeat, when the polls suggest a large Labour majority in the elections on Thursday that will determine the 650 seats in the House of Commons.

“If you look at the polls, it’s pretty clear that Labour is heading for a victory on a scale that’s probably never been seen before in this country,” said Labor Minister Mel Stride on Wednesday.

Rishi Sunak, on his final day of campaigning in south-east England, will try to win votes on Wednesday to avoid a “supermajority” for Labour, as he has hinted on social media.

Keir Starmer will tour several parts of the country on Wednesday on his last day of campaigning, first in Wales and then in Scotland, before ending in central England. “We must continue to spread our message of change. (…) There are still many undecided voters across the country,” Labour campaign coordinator Pat McFadden told the BBC.

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