Warring Conservatives must unite and cut taxes if they want to have a shot at winning general election, poll suggests
WARRING Tories must unite and cut taxes to have a shot at winning next year’s general election, an exclusive poll for The Sun on Sunday suggests.
Many people also believe immigration — currently standing at a historic peak — is too high and should be slashed to the tens of thousands.
The results follow a bruising few weeks for Rishi Sunak, whose mutinous party has been trading blows over his Rwanda plan.
Tory MPs said our poll findings show the party must “stop fighting ourselves” and instead turn their fire on Labour.
Former minister Jackie Doyle-Price said voters are “sick of drama” and will clobber the Conservatives at the ballot box unless the party pulls together.
Others urged the PM to set out more tax cuts in the New Year to lure back fed-up voters.
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Fifty-one per cent said the Tories are “more divided than united” on what they stand for, the Redfield & Wilton poll found.
Just 29 per cent believe they are “more united”.
The reverse is true for Labour, with 30 per cent believing the party to be “more divided” and 43 per cent calling it “more united”.
Our poll puts Labour ahead on all big issues, including the economy and immigration — traditionally seen as the party’s Achilles heel.
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In a crumb of comfort for Mr Sunak, it suggests there is no great love for Sir Keir Starmer.
Some 53 per cent said they wish there was someone else to vote for.
The poll also showed a huge demand for tax cuts.
Some 47 per cent of the 1,500 quizzed back slashing levies.
A mere ten per cent want them raised while 27 per cent said they should stay the same.
Almost half — 48 per cent — would most like Income Tax cut, followed by National Insurance on 36 per cent, council tax on 31 per cent and VAT on 30 per cent.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and the PM are pinning electoral hopes on cutting taxes in the March Budget, with Stamp Duty and Inheritance Tax the most likely to be slashed.
On immigration, the poll shows widespread alarm following the arrival of 1.2million people to the UK last year, a record high.
Net migration — arrivals minus the number of who left the country — hit 745,000, also a record.
Forty-four per cent of those polled said they believe immigration is too high, while 34 per cent think it is at an “appropriate level”.
And 57 per cent said 1.2million incomers is too high if they remain for a year or longer.
Two-thirds — 66 per cent — said immigration should be cut to 100,000 or less.
MPs are now on their Christmas holidays but the PM is braced for fresh trouble when they return in the New Year.
Right-wingers have demanded amendments to toughen up his Rwanda scheme while moderates want it watered down.
The fear inside No10 is that Mr Sunak and his border plan will be squeezed in a pincer movement.
The poll suggests the PM’s five priorities — to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, stop the boats and cut NHS waiting lists — are popular with the public.
Asked to choose the top five issues that could swing how they vote, Brits put raising NHS funding first and cutting inflation second.
Inflation fell to 3.9 per cent last month and the better-than-expected figures fuelled talk that interest rates could be cut next year.
However, the poll revealed that Mr Sunak trails Sir Keir on who would make the best PM.
Just 24 per cent back Mr Sunak, while 35 per cent back the Labour leader.
Ms Doyle-Price said: “There is no love for Labour out there but our supporters are sick of drama.
“They expect Conservatives to get on with governing.
"The more we fall out, the more we damage ourselves.
"It’s time to get serious and come together to make our great nation the best it can be.
"If we don’t, we will be punished at the ballot box. The choice is ours.
"Unite and serve. That’s what we were elected to do.”
Tory MP Paul Scully added: “This poll shows that voters do not like divided parties and we must stop fighting each other and unite.
"We need to come together in 2024 and set out one compelling vision for the country.”
Party chairman Richard Holden told Times Radio: “The biggest weakness is always a party that can look to itself, rather than the country.
"I think being inward-looking is the weakness.”
Mr Holden, however, scored the Tory Party eight out of ten when asked how united it was, and added: “It’s definitely on the improving scale.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg, meanwhile, urged the PM to return in the New Year with tax cuts to win over the public.
He said: “This is the wisdom of crowds.
"They know that the State is doing too much and needs to cut spending to give us our money back.”
Tory MP John Redwood added: “Tax cuts are crucial to grow the economy, boost jobs and ease the needless squeeze.
"Cut the right tax rates and collect more tax.”
Philip van Scheltinga, director of research at Redfield & Wilton Strategies, said: “Our polling has consistently found that the Conservatives have lost their historical reputation for lower taxes during this parliament.
“On tax, the Conservatives have hit delete on a core mission of their party.
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“They might win some voters back if they do cut taxes in the spring, but it might be too little, too late.”
He also warned divided parties rarely win elections, adding: “The problem with them is simply that voters do not know what it is they are voting for.”
OPINION: Tide can be turned
By Kate Ferguson
DIVIDED parties do not win elections. This is a truth universally acknowledged in Westminster.
So our poll today showing most voters think the Conservatives are fundamentally split will deeply worry Rishi Sunak.
But it should also be food for thought for Tory rebels who seem to revel in the civil war they have plunged their party into.
Their secret meetings, mutinous plots and talk of the party's "five families" causing trouble from the backbenches sounds like the plot of some cheap Mafia film rather than the actions of a governing party.
But as Conservatives fight each other they forget the only fight that matters - the election battle against Labour.
And our poll suggests Sir Keir Starmer is quietly reaping the benefits.
But Rishi Sunak can turn things around. And our poll shows him how.
First off - tax cuts.
These are popular with voters and will give the economy a shot in the arm.
Second off - immigration.
When Brits are told how high the numbers are, they want them to come down.
Rishi Sunak has made a start on cracking down on visa routes.
Our findings suggest there are votes to be won in bringing down numbers.
Finally - there is no massive love for Sir Keir Starmer. Despite Labour’s poll lead, Keirmania has yet to take off.
This suggests Rishi can still win the election if he doles out some goodies for voters and puts clear blue water between the Tories and Labour.
But time is running out.