Southport Tory candidate calls for Rishi Sunak to be replaced

Southport's Conservative candidate Damien Moore has called for Rishi Sunak to be replaced after the exit poll predicted a disastrous general election result for the party. The exit poll, released as voting closed on Thursday (July 4), predicted a landslide Labour victory.

Sir Keir Starmer's party is forecast to win 410 seats to the Conservatives' 131, bringing an end to 14 years of Tory rule and returning Labour to Downing Street. Mr Moore, who has served as Southport's MP since 2017, is expected to lose his seat. According to the exit poll, there is a 99% chance that Patrick Hurley will be elected in the Sefton town, making him its first ever Labour MP.

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READ MORE: General election exit poll predicts historic Labour landslide

It would mean that the Merseyside political map would be completely red the first time ever. Mr Moore described the exit poll as "very devastating" for his Conservative colleagues as he called for a change of leader.

Speaking to the ECHO at the election count at Splashworld, in Southport, Mr Moore said not enough progress has been made on immigration under the current Tory government which may have swung people towards Reform in this election.

He added: "We have got to analyse the night. We are going to have to change the leader of the party. It is best done sooner rather than later so we can re-engage with our voters and supporters."

If the exit poll is correct, the Conservatives will have their lowest number of MPs on record. The Liberal Democrats are forecast to win 61 seats, Reform UK on 13 and the Green Party two.

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