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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/p>\nPriti Patel will tell members of the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) that they have been let down by Tory MPs in Westminster and Mr Sunak\u2019s government.<\/p>\n
The former Home Secretary, a key ally of Mr Johnson\u2019s, is the keynote speaker at the first major gathering of Tory activists since last year\u2019s party conference as discontent grows among MPs and members.<\/p>\n
The CDO was set up after Tory activists expressed outrage at the way MPs had removed Boris Johnson and then later Liz Truss, both of whom had been elected by members.<\/p>\n
Organisers, including former Tory Treasurer Lord Cruddas, former MEP David Campbell Bannerman and Conservative Post editor Claire Bullivant who were all behind the Bring Back Boris petition, are hopeful that Mr Johnson will also attend.<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak was made leader after Ms Truss\u2019s government collapsed but members, who had rejected him last summer, were not given a vote to confirm his appointment in what many saw as a \u201cWestminster coup\u201d.<\/p>\n
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The conference also comes after Brexiteers have threatened to send in letters to the 1922 Committee in a bid to trigger another leadership vote after Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch severely watered down a key Brexit Bill.<\/p>\n
It means that thousands of pieces of EU legislation will be retained in British law which were supposed to have bee ditched.<\/p>\n
Ms Patel will pin the blame on the chaos of opponents of Mr Johnson who forced him out.<\/p>\n
She will say: \u201cOver the last year some colleagues in Westminster have let us down and have done a better job at damaging our party than the opposition, left wing campaign groups, civil service blob, and our enemies in the media combined.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey took down a vote-winning political giant who was on course to secure a record-breaking fifth consecutive General Election win for our party.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> \u201cOur members, are angered about what has happened and this undermined the bonds of trust between our membership and the leadership of our Party.\u201d<\/p>\n She will add: \u201cNever again should the grassroots of our Party be side-lined, neglected and ignored.\u201d<\/p>\n The former Home Secretary and other speakers will highlight the disastrous local election results last week which saw the Tories lose more than 1,000 seats.<\/p>\n This was 1,300 worse than Theresa May in 2019 just before she was forced out of government when the same seats were up for election.<\/p>\n She will accuse the party leadership of abandoning local activists and failing to properly support them as they tried to win votes.<\/p>\n Ms Patel, who was being urged to run for the leadership herself last summer, will tell activists: \u201cI know how hard you work, and I see it, and I appreciate it.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s why it pains me to see you all being let down by senior echelons of our party.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we are out there week-in week-out facing the electors dealing with the criticism, responding to the tough questions, and hearing their anger, frustration and disappointment, those in power and control in our Party rarely seem to be out there meeting the people.<\/p>\n \u201cAs grassroots activists, we are the ones who are in touch with the people, and we are the ones who face the consequences of the bad decisions, in-fighting and egos in Westminster.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps if they spent more time with us, they would be more in touch with the people and with our values.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd perhaps if they did that, last week we would not have seen 1,000 of our friends and colleagues lose their seats in the local elections and dozens of Councils fall out of Conservative control.\u201d<\/p>\n In a reference to watering down Brexit opportunities and tax rises, she will add: \u201cThe errors and mistakes made by a minority in Westminster have cost our Party dearly across the country and some of those whose seats were lost may be here today.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd there are serious consequences. For the first time in 20 years, we are no longer the largest Party of local government, and hundreds of communities are now worse off without local Conservative representation.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms Patel will also echo concerns over polices and accuse the current party leadership of abandoning Conservative values.<\/p>\n She will tell CDO supporters: \u201cYou are the greatest advocates of our values, and our values matter more than ever before.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also risk losing votes if we forget who we are and what we stand for.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the solution to these challenges is not more state control, more spending, and more taxes \u2013 which sadly have featured in recent budgets.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Conservatives, we must never forget that we are here to serve the public, and to do so in a way that promotes freedom, enterprise and opportunity.<\/p>\n She will suggest that Mr Sunak and his supporters have forgotten what separates them from Labour.<\/p>\n \u201cThe public will not vote Conservative because they want high taxes, high spending and high borrowing.<\/p>\n \u201cThey vote Conservative because they expect us to keep taxes down, back enterprise, and defend Britain\u2019s hard-working law-abiding majority.\u201d<\/p>\n
How Rishi threw Badenoch and her ambitions under bus marked Brexit[INSIGHT] <\/strong>
Tory recovery in reverse new poll shows as voters deliver verdict[REVEAL] <\/strong>
POLL: Is Rishi Sunak’s EU law U-turn a Brexit betrayal?[REACT] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/Cruddas-4748872.jpg?r=1683908384603\")
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