Boris Johnson is playing ‘Russian roulette’ with his MPs’ careers to secure an election victory, secret research shows
BORIS Johnson is playing “Russian roulette” with his own MPs careers to secure an election victory, secret research has shown.
The Prime Minister will risk the jobs of loyal supporters as aides have been told there could be up to 150 marginal seats due to voter volatility.
Private research was relayed to senior aides this week as Boris Johnson asks the Commons to back his pledge for a December 12 election.
Tory advisers have been told there could be anywhere between 125 and 150 marginal seats - but Mr Johnson would still emerge as victor.
The polling breakdown shows that more than a THIRD of voters are willing to throw away historic party loyalty to back the Tories, Brexit Party, Labour or the Lib Dems for the first time.
Sitting Tory MPs fear ‘churn’ going into an election without the first phase of Brexit completed.
'VOLATILE'
It could seriously harm sitting MPs’ chances as the party aims to pick up new seats elsewhere.
Vulnerable names include Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers, Scotland Secretary Alister Jack and ex-leader Iain Duncan Smith.
A source said: “The party has been warned by polling experts that 30-40 per cent of voters are willing to vote tactically, which means there could be between 125 and 150 marginal seats in this election.”
They added that Boris is still expected to win a majority but things are so “volatile” that there are “some seats we could win and seats we could lose but lots is uncertain”.
One MP said: “It would be playing Russian roulette with people’s jobs. No one knows how this will play out if an election takes place.”
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Twenty Tory MPs have threatened not to back an election bid by the government during a meeting with the party’s deputy Chief Whip Amanda Milling this week.
They are happy to back an election but only if there have been attempts to pass the Brexit legislation.
Boris Johnson has told MPs that if they back a pre-Christmas poll he would bring back the bill and allow a timetable until November 6 to pass it.
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