Triggering an early general election on July 4 was a “big gamble” by Rishi Sunak and it has not paid off, a former Tory Cabinet minister has suggested. 

George Eustice, the ex-environment secretary who is not standing at the election, said the Tories had entered the campaign “on the ropes” and had not managed to improve their situation by much, if at all. 

He said that all the Conservatives can do now is “get in the saddle every day, ride into battle and keep fighting”. 

He told GB News: “I think for this [election] it’s been particularly difficult for the Conservative Party, because they’ve gone into it on the ropes, 20 points behind in the polls, having already spent two years trying to change those fortunes and get some momentum behind the party, without success.

“[The Conservatives were] taking a big gamble that an election would shake things up and close the gap and there isn’t much evidence of that happening to date. 

“So I think it’s very difficult for the party to fight this election, but all they can do is get in the saddle every day, ride into battle and keep fighting.”

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