Tories brace for double by-election defeat this week with leaked memo warning support has HALVED in Mid Beds and Tamworth – as polls show Labour’s national lead running at up to 20 points

Tories are braced for double by-election defeat this week as an internal memo warned their support has halved.

A leaked assessment from canvassing paints a grim picture of the party’s prospects, suggesting that in Mid Bedfordshire the vote share could plunge from the 60 per cent Nadine Dorries received in 2019 to 30 per cent.  

Meanwhile, in Tamworth the missive to party chair Greg Hands predicts that backing could slump to between 28 per cent and 33 per cent. That compares to the 66 per cent ex-MP Chris Pincher had four years ago.

Two defeats in the historically safe seats would be a shattering blow for the PM, and would amplify the clamour for early tax cuts

Deltapoll research offered more evidence of a ‘glitterbomb bounce’ for Keir Starmer after his conference last week

A separate Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey had slightly better news for Rishi Sunak with the gap narrowing from 16 to 14 points 

Labour’s gathering in Manchester last week seemed to move the dial, with speculation that Sir Keir gained from his calm response to a protester storming the stage during his keynote speech (pictured)

Two defeats in the historically safe seats would be a shattering blow for the PM, and would amplify the clamour for early tax cuts. The Tories have held Mid Beds since 1931. 

Deltapoll research published last night offered more evidence of a ‘glitterbomb bounce’ for Keir Starmer after his conference last week.

With just two days left until the crucial contests in Mid Beds and Tamworth, Labour was up four on 47 per cent while the Conservatives were down one on 27 per cent.

A separate Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey had slightly better news for Rishi Sunak with the gap narrowing from 16 to 14 points. 

There was little sign of a boost for Mr Sunak from the Conservative conference in Manchester at the start of the month.

But Labour’s gathering in Manchester last week seemed to move the dial, with speculation that Sir Keir gained from his calm response to a protester storming the stage during his keynote speech. 

A 28-year-old man was arrested after yelling that ‘democracy is in crisis’ as he poured glitter over the Opposition leader unchallenged. 

Sir Keir –  who still appeared to have some glitter on his face the following day –  joked about the experience, saying it would take more than one ‘idiot’ to derail his plan to take power at the next election.

A YouGov poll afterwards showed Labour’s lead growing to 23 points, while Opinium at the weekend found it was up two points to 16.

Sir Keir’s personal approval rating rose nine points with the latter firm, to plus one. That included an 18-point increase in approval from 2019 Conservative voters. 

In contrast, Rishi Sunak’s approval rating was minus 24. 

Sir Keir Starmer’s party extended its lead over the Tories by two points to 16, while he himself saw his personal rating improve, according to Opinium.

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