Tory victory unlikely but still possible, Grant Shapps says

Grant Shapps has conceded that a Tory general election victory is “unlikely”, but insisted it is still “possible”.

The Defence Secretary said he believed the Conservatives could still win the contest on July 4 and form the next government, but admitted it is “not the most likely outcome”.

It comes as the Tories continue to lag far behind Labour in the polls. Last week the party dropped below Reform UK for the first time, prompting Nigel Farage to declare: “We are now the opposition.”

In an interview with Times Radio on Monday morning, Mr Shapps, who has been touted as a potential contender to succeed Mr Sunak as Tory leader, said he was a “realist” about the party’s prospects.

‘I am a realist’

Asked if the Conservatives could still win, he said: “Yes, it is possible to win the election. Do I accept it is not the most likely outcome? Yes, I accept that I am a realist.”

Mr Shapps argued that the longer the campaign goes on, the more likely the polls are to narrow, as more people will realise why it would be unwise to hand a massive majority to Sir Keir Starmer.

Pressed on whether he a Tory victory was “unlikely but possible”, he replied: “I think that is the realistic position, isn’t it? I live in the real world… let’s not try and pretend black is white.

“But let’s not also try and say that just because opinion polls say ‘X’, that’s what will happen at the ballot box because, as I have mentioned, in 2015, 2016 and 2017, pollsters were the ones who ended up with egg on their faces.”

The Cabinet minister warned a Labour victory on July 4 would have “horrendous” consequences for the country after a Survation survey published at the weekend suggested Sir Keir’s party was on course to secure a 262-seat majority.

Mr Shapps said: “The risks of a blank cheque for Starmer are horrendous for this country and it doesn’t do the country any good to have that kind of size majority for Starmer.”

The Cabinet minister also suggested he would welcome Boris Johnson campaigning for the Conservatives.

Asked if the former premier would be a help or a hindrance, he told Times Radio: “In terms of who campaigns, every Conservative I hope will be involved in this campaign in their own way at different times.

“That is the right way to proceed, we want to campaign as one big Conservative family and warn people of the dangers of Starmer and this massive majority that the polls you are telling about would suggest if they were indeed true.”