Tory party officials and candidates tried to make money on betting on when the General Election would be, knowing beforehand due to inside knowledge. This is illegal. The problem is that this was a closely held secret that only those close to Rishi Sunak would know. They won’t become millionaires but as a PR disaster this is certainly up there….with the rest of them.
The Tories have been polling at around 18%, largely based off the pensioner vote which has been their rock solid vote since time began as well as tactical voting. Their campaign has been lacklustre and the question has to be asked; what was the strategy in the first place? Sunak was installed as PM by the backroom after stabbing three previous leaders in the back. Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were all removed because of pressure from within. We were left eventually with Rishi Sunak, the ‘grown up’ in the room. What turns out to be basically a glorified Business Secretary promoted far higher than his capability, Sunak has not been able to command any kind of narrative, attention and is being swamped by scandal after PR nightmare. The poor guy has tried to scramble back onto the life raft but he just keeps getting washed back into the water. It’s hard to watch.
This latest scandal involving candidates, the head of the Tory election campaign and a bodyguard is just the latest in a long running saga that has stretched from pretty much the get-go. A strong leader would act decisively, put out a positive spin on the whole thing and look to move the conversation on. He hasn’t been able to do anything. The Tory campaign lead has suspended himself, the Tory HQ lights are off and the strategy is changing in a painful way. Damage limitation. That’s what it has been unofficially, and now it is official party policy.
The party has already been changing tack. They have given up selling their message because practically no one is listening. They are going on the fear-factor - the last throw of the dice. “A vote for Labour is a vote for ___”. “A vote for Reform is a vote for ___”. Insert the following words into either blank: higher taxes, Labour, disaster, chaos etc. I don’t think even this is working, save the frightened pensioners genuinely afraid they are about to see their pensions, savings, estates and deaths taxed by Labour (though, in fairness, they are right to be afraid of this). They are trying to frighten people with the idea of a ‘supermajority’ and warning that a big Labour majority would mean that they are in power for a decade, perhaps unaware that we have to have another general election before then. The Tories might be struggling with maths at this difficult time.
Candidates all over the country for the Tories are doing their best to disassociate themselves with the now-toxic brand. They don’t want to associate themselves with central office which can’t run a coherent national story, can’t keep people in line with things like the law and can’t make their leader in any way likeable compared to a Labour leader as likeable as stale bread. There are no serious people really giving the party any impetus and every Tory spokesman looks like they are going through the motions. The senior Tory MPs are far too busy campaigning in their own constituencies because they are at serious risk of losing them. 20,000 seat majorities for the Tories are no longer classed as safe seats really for them any more. They are far more focused on the ground work than the national work. At National level they are being let down so spectacularly.
Kir Starmer is just laughing his way to a majority. He doesn’t have to do anything. The Tory infighting, Tory scandals and leadership ineffectiveness are literally the best election elements for Labour. The spindly little Labour boxer is watching his opponent repeatedly hit himself in the face. The betting scandal just looks perfect for Labour who are just waiting at the front door of Number 10 waiting to be let in as they can hear scrapping and breaking from inside as the Tories are switching off the lights and stealing the lightbulbs.
It is rather poetic though. Corruption and scandals like this plague any administration or empire at the end of their time. It becomes far more about individuals trying to squeeze the last morsels of knowledge, power and insider positions to enrich themselves as much as possible. Innocuous as these £100 bets are they are symboli of a party devoid of mission or purpose. As Nero fiddled whilst Rome burned Sunak will put one last bet on him losing whilst the Tories gave up.
As for you, dear reader. If you haven’t put a bet on the Tories to lose this election I’m afraid the odds are far too much in your favour. Ascot is on, maybe it’s better there. One thing you can put a bet on; Sunak living and working in California in 2 months time.
This article first appeared on the TDL Times. For more information, articles and more please visit www.thetdltimes.com.
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