Desperate Tories plead with supporters to make the effort to vote on election day
People gave their lives for the right to vote say senior Conservatives
Senior Tories are pleading with supporters to go to the polls on July 4 with a warning that previous generations “gave their lives” to defend the right to vote.
It comes amid fears that stay-at-home Conservative supporters will hand an overwhelming election victory to Labour by refusing to cast a ballot.
Veterans Minister and former commando Johnny Mercer called on the country to honour those who died in defence of democracy. He said: “The truth is people gave their lives in order to protect the freedoms and privileges that we have, including voting, and so I urge people to go out and cast their vote on election day and exercise their important democratic right.”
And former defence minister Tobias Ellwood, who served with the Royal Green Jackets, said: “By casting our vote we not only elect our political leaders but also exercise that very privilege which so many gave their lives to defend.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pointed out that Ukraine is fighting for the democratic rights we take for granted.
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He told the Sunday Express: “The Ukrainians are fighting for their democratic freedoms, for the right to determine who governs them. Their bravery should remind us how blessed we are to live in this country where we get to elect our representatives, to choose our own government.”
While Tories fear some supporters could switch to backing Reform, Conservative candidates are also concerned that some traditional backers could simply sit this election out.
Conservatives are continuing to focus on claims Labour will increase tax, and have published a list of tax rises they say Sir Keir’s party has failed to rule out.
Writing in the Sunday Express, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott said: “You can vote for the Conservatives, who will cut tax. Or you can vote for the Labour Party, who have tax rises coded into their DNA.”
But former Home Secretary Suella Braverman said voters were punishing the Conservative Party for failing to cut immigration. She insisted: “I urged the Prime Minister for years to take some action on illegal immigration.”
Tories are also continuing their social media campaign urging voters not to give Sir Keir Starmer “a blank cheque” in an apparent admission that Labour could win a huge landslide victory. Adverts running on Facebook stress the need to ensure Conservatives have enough MPs after polling day to mount an effective opposition in Parliament.
One candidate said: “Telling people we are going to lose is actually very helpful. It tells people who don’t like us that it’s safe to vote Lib Dem or Green or for an independent, and they don’t have to vote Labour”
