Boris Johnson blasts Rishi Sunak after fresh devastating data: 'He needs a massive kick in the pants!'

Boris Johnson blasts Rishi Sunak after fresh devastating data: 'He needs a massive kick in the pants!'
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 09/11/2023

- 10:16

Updated: 09/11/2023

- 10:20

The former Prime Minister said Sunak is offering 'nothing to rally behind'

Boris Johnson has launched a blistering attack on Rishi Sunak, claiming he and his party are "drifting to defeat".

This comes as new polling from YouGov puts Labour's lead at 24 points ahead of the Conservatives, one of the largest leads the party has seen.


In a series of interviews with Nadine Dorries for her book, which was published today, Johnson said Sunak is offering "nothing to rally behind".

Johnson told Dorries: "You've got to have a positive agenda for change in the country.

WATCH: Christopher Hope looks back at Sunak's first year in office

"You know, people still feel hacked off. They voted for change in 2019 and they are drifting back to Labour in those Brexit seats because they're not seeing a changed government.

"Nothing to rally behind, nothing; we are just drifting to defeat."

He added: "The whole thing needs a massive kick in the pants … unless we grip it, the results of the local elections will be repeated at a general election, and Starmer will be a complete disaster...

"I feel a massive, massive sense of frustration that we had an 80-seat majority.

"We had a fantastic agenda. We could have kept the whole thing going."

Johnson also criticised the Prime Minister's decision to raise corporation tax to 25 per cent from 19 per cent.

While the move was first announced in 2021 when Sunak was Johnson's Chancellor, the former PM said: "Why the hell are we putting up corporation tax in this way? It’s absolutely mad."

He added: "Why not cut corporation tax to 10 per cent?

"You know, why don’t we just do what the Irish do? Why not just outbid the Irish?

"We don’t have to obey international norms on corporation tax … I’m frustrated.

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"I’m seething. I’m a caged beast. I’m a coiled mamba … We’re drifting; we are losing the plot."

The latest YouGov poll for the Times puts the Conservatives on 23 points, while Labour is on 47 - up three points.

The poll was conducted between November 7 and 8.

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