Undoubtedly, there is not one single Conservative Party as divisions regarding fundamental issues clearly show.
When the Conservative Party is just started preparations for next year local elections, including the London Assembly Election, water is pouring in into the ship. In the next few weeks, two by-elections will be fought - one in a marginal seat and another in what was considered until now a safe seat. Political commentators guarantee that a crucial seat will be lost and state that is a safe seat with a 20 or so thousand majority is also lost, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will struggle to remain at the helm. The rule created under a Conservative Liberal Coalition is no more and a General Election could in theory be called before 2024. The so called Red Wall seats won under Boris Johnson's leadership are bound to be lost and several serving MPs have publicly stated that they will not be standing for election in 2024.
In a few days time, meetings will take place to select candidates for the coming local elections. Would you step in as a candidate given what is happening at national level? One major concern for local organisers is to get not just calibre candidates to step in. A major concern is to get somebody to stand as candidate. I guess paper candidates will be chosen in more than one case, people who don't mind to stand when defeat is almost guaranteed. Recent local elections were not brilliant. If there is a repeat of what happened in 2023, at both local and national level, the Conservative Party will be done for quite some time.
Another issue of concern is: will Boris Johnson be asked to lead a new political party - or as it has been called 'a new centre right party'? If this is the case and a new political party is formed, then the chances of the Conservative Party staying in power could be practically nil.
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