Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, has once again highlighted the ongoing rift within the Conservative Party, accusing them of “stabbing Boris Johnson in the back” to get Rishi Sunak into Downing Street.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today, Rayner exploited Tory divisions, claiming that the party had ditched their “biggest election winner” for a “pint-sized loser”. She pointed to the recent comments by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, who has been urging Prime Minister Sunak to call an election due to fears that the party may be wiped out.
Rayner’s remarks come as many supporters of Johnson have criticized the Tory MPs who removed him, accusing them of doing Labour’s dirty work. Former Tory MEP David Campbell Bannerman, now chairman of the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO), told the Express: “I am afraid that Angela Rayner has picked up on how knifing Boris has boosted Labour in the polls”.
Other Tories in the CDO, set up in the wake of Johnson’s ousting from Downing Street to champion the Conservative grassroots, said that Tory MPs should “take responsibility” for their fateful decision and “remember this on election night”.
Director Claire Bullivant said: “Boris was an immensely popular and democratically elected Prime Minister with a clear mandate who was hounded by the left and people like Angela Rayner because they feared him so much”.
“Of course they knew they would never stand a chance against him. It’s refreshing she’s now actually admitting it.”
“It’s why Keir, Angela and their friends at the BBC and Guardian went on about wallpaper and a slice of cake so much!”
“But sadly 60 lemming-like Conservative MPs, led by the likes of Kemi Badenoch, bought into the narrative and jumped off the cliff sending in letters in which ultimately brought Boris down.”
“Then to sour things even further, the Party decided to cut out the membership and crowned Rishi on the basis ‘they knew best’”.
Rayner’s comments have reignited the debate over Johnson’s legacy and the future of the Conservative Party. It remains to be seen whether the party can unite behind Sunak and regain the support of voters ahead of the next election.
