A group of senior Conservative MPs are urging Rishi Sunak to do more to win over younger voters, including looking at policies around the environment and net zero.
In comments to a gathering of the party’s liberal leaning wing the Tory Reform Group reported by The Guardian, the security minister Tom Tugendhat argued that the party can no longer “sit around” and assume voters will come to them as they get older.
He continued: “There isn’t a Conservative in the country that doesn’t believe the opportunity for people to have a hum, a family – whatever that family looks like – is vital and we need to be the party of aspiration, helping people achieve that ideal with conservative policies”.
“There are areas where we can be doing more, especially when it comes to young people and the next generation,” he said.
He added that offers to younger voters had to include sticking with commitments to reach net zero by 2050.
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This is very welcome news from the Government – net zero is an important principle and something we promised voters in 2019 that we would work towards
The @ToryReformGroup remains committed to it
Rishi Sunak rejects reprieve for petrol and diesel carshttps://t.co/zSin5PqIuf
— TRG (@ToryReformGroup) September 16, 2023
The Tory Reform Group have also welcomed the government’s decision to reject a reprieve for diesel and petrol cars.
On twitter the group said: “This is very welcome news from the government – net zero is an important principle and something we promised voters in 2019 that we would work towards. The Tory Reform Group remains committed to it.”
It follows criticism of the Prime Minister’s expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling and his approach to Ulez during the Uxbridge byelection.
Overall, YouGov stats highlight that at least 70% of voters agree that the world’s climate is changing as a result of human activity.
In addition, youth climate activists have warned Labour that they should focus more on climate change policies to keep younger voters on board and ensure turnout at next year’s General Election – with the issue set to be a major focus.
