THE Conservatives are heading for an electoral wipeout on the scale of their 1997 defeat by Labour, the most authoritative opinion poll in five years has predicted reports The Daily Telegraph. The YouGov survey of 14,000 people forecasts that the Tories will retain just 169 seats, while Labour will sweep to power with 385 – giving Sir Keir Starmer a 120-seat majority. Harlow, where Robert Halfon, defends a 14,000 majority, is predicted to got to Labour. Every Red Wall seat won from Labour by Boris Johnson in 2019 will be lost, the poll indicates, and the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, will be one of 11 Cabinet ministers to lose their seats. The Tories will win 196 fewer seats than in 2019, more than the 178 Sir John Major lost in 1997.

Source: The Guardian January 15, 2024 17:42 UTC