Ten top Tories at risk of losing seats at the general election

Rishi Sunak drenched as he announces snap election

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election

Rishi Sunak has finally fired the starting gun on the general election campaign, stunning Westminster by calling a snap poll for 4 July, ending months of speculation about what date the vote would be held.

In a speech in the pouring rain outside No 10 Downing Street, the prime minister defended his record on the economy, national security and immigration as he set out the key battleground issues he intends to campaign on over the next six weeks.

The election, he said, would be a choice between himself and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who vowed to end Tory “chaos” and bring back economic “stability” during his own election address.

Voters will indeed choose between the two party leaders at the ballot box. But they will also select new MPs - 650 to be precise - and there are several Conservative Party big beasts at risk of being ejected from the Commons, with Labour commanding a 21 per cent lead in the polls, according to one tracker.

Jeremy Hunt

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election
Jeremy Hunt (Getty)

Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, is perhaps the most high-profile Tory MP at risk during the summer election.

Mr Hunt, who has served in the cabinet almost continually since 2010, is defending a majority of 8,817 in the new Godalming and Ash constituency, which takes in parts of Mr Hunt’s current South West Surrey seat.

A majority that big would usually leave the incumbent safe, but the size of the swing away from the Tories means Mr Hunt, a former health secretary, faces a battle to hang on in the ‘blue wall’ seat.

The Liberal Democrats will be the main challengers in the seat. The party took control of Surrey Heath Council in May 2023 and has also become the largest party in Waverley Borough Council in Mr Hunt’s area.

Paul Fellows, a council leader campaigning on the NHS, will stand for the Lib Dems in the seat, having run for South West Surrey at the 2019 general election.

Grant Shapps

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election
Grant Shapps (Getty)

Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, has a majority of 10,995 in Welwyn Hatfield but the size of the swing away from the Tories means he is also at risk.

Labour came second in the seat at the 2019 general election, securing 31.6 per cent of the vote.

Andrew Lewlin, who worked in social housing, has been chosen as the party’s candidate for the 2024 election.

Penny Mordaunt

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election
Penny Mordaunt (Getty)

Penny Mordaunt is said to be on maneuvers to take the Tory leadership crown should Mr Sunak lose the election.

But the House of Commons leader could find she is moving out of Westminster altogether come 5 July, if the polls ring true.

She holds a majority of 15,780 in Portsmouth North.

Labour, which came second in the second in 2019, has chosen Amanda Martin, a former teacher, to run for the seat.

Johnny Mercer

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election
Johnny Mercer (Getty)

Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, has a majority of 12,897 in Plymouth Moor View - the seat he pinched from Labour in 2015.

Labour will be hoping to win the constituency back and current polling suggests the party is in with a shout of doing just that.

Fred Thomas, a former Royal Marine, will stand for the party this year.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election
Iain Duncan Smith (AFP/Getty)

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who has been an outspoken critic of China, is defending a majority of just 1,262 in Chingford and Woodford Green.

The former Tory leader has held the seat since 1992 but faces a major battle to hold onto it this year.

The outer London seat is near the top of Labour’s target list and Dr Faiza Shaheen, a policy professional who has worked at charities, will stand for the party this year.

Jacob Rees-Mogg

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election
Jacob Rees Mogg (Getty)

Arch-Brexiteer Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg is among the other big names who could face losing his seat after spending more than a decade in the Commons.

Sir Jacob, who previously served as the business secretary and was knighted last year, retained his North East Somerset seat with a healthy majority of 14,729.

But a YouGov poll published earlier this year found Sir Jacob was trailing his main challenger in the seat, which will become North-East Somerset and Hanham.

Labour has chosen West of England Mayor Dan Norris as its candidate for the seat. He lost it to Sir Jacob in 2014.

The Lib Dems say they are the main challengers in the seat.

Steve Baker

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election
Steve Baker (Getty)

Steve Baker, the self-styled Brexit “hardman”, was instrumental in bringing down former prime minister Theresa May.

But his own political career could have just weeks left to run - the MP for Wycombe is defending a majority of just 4,214.

Labour, who came second in the seat at the last election, has chosen  Emma Reynolds as its candidate for 2024.

Ms Reynolds was the MP for Wolverhampton North East from 2010 to 2019 and served as a shadow candidate from 2013 to 2015.

Suella Braverman

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election
Suella Braverman (Getty)

Suella Braverman could also find she is on her way out of the Commons less than a year after being sacked as home secretary.

She is defending a majority of 26,086 in Fareham.

Labour came second in 2019 and will be hoping for a big result come 5 July. The party has not yet chosen a candidate for the seat.

Liz Truss

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election
Liz Truss (Getty)

Liz Truss may be looking for a new job over the summer after setting fire to the economy during her short stint as prime minister.

She is defending a majority of 26,195 in South West Norfolk but has been warned she may be at risk.

Labour came second in 2019 and has selected Terry Jermy, a local businessman, as its candidate.

Rishi Sunak

rishi sunak, 2024 general election, ten top tories at risk of losing seats at the general election
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was soaked while making a speech outside No 10 (Lucy North/PA) (PA Wire)

Such is the size of Labour’s lead in the polls that even Mr Sunak - with a majority of 27,210 -is at risk of being booted out of the Commons, according to one survey.

The prime minister has represented his Richmond (Yorks) seat since 2015 but could find himself out of No 10 and the Commons in just over six weeks time.

Ukip came second in the seat in 2019. Labour recently won the York and North Yorkshire mayoral contest in the area and will be hoping to win Richmond and North Allerton in July.

The party has not yet selected a candidate for the new seat.

OTHER NEWS

20 minutes ago

Video: Nigel Farage makes thinly veiled swipe after being booed by crowd as he wins best news presenter at the TRIC Awards

21 minutes ago

Newly sworn-in ANC MP Zizi Kodwa: State’s case against me is ‘nonexistent’

21 minutes ago

John 5 Responds to Accusations of Guitar Miming With Motley Crue

21 minutes ago

Despite political uncertainty, Cape Town's office rental market thrives

21 minutes ago

Labor’s renewables-only approach ‘can’t’ stabilise Australia’s energy grid

21 minutes ago

Medihelp reports strong growth, more younger members join

21 minutes ago

Never (really) too young to have a will

21 minutes ago

Exciting call for nominations for the 2024 AWIEF Awards

21 minutes ago

Blockchain vs Crypto

21 minutes ago

Texas A&M beats Florida 6-0 to make CWS finals for 1st time as Gators shut out 1st time in 2 years

21 minutes ago

Generative AI sent to the dock in RIAA ‘BBL Drizzy’ legal action

21 minutes ago

The Matric mandate: a barrier to employment for South African youth

21 minutes ago

One of 2024's biggest new anime series will be shown in cinemas – one month before its Netflix and Crunchyroll release

21 minutes ago

Money Show host Bruce Whitfield to leave Primedia

21 minutes ago

Great Wolf Lodge water park in Webster will open earlier than expected, according to website

21 minutes ago

Employers' role in health and wellness to promote employee well-being, by Medshield

21 minutes ago

How environmental toxins and pollution affect our health, by Medshield

21 minutes ago

LA broadcast TV legend Tom Van Amburg — who gave Regis Philbin his daytime start — dead at 83

21 minutes ago

Video: Shocking moment thugs armed with Rambo knives fight in the middle of the day on residential London street

21 minutes ago

Everything you need to know about changes coming July 1

21 minutes ago

Coalition slams Prime Minister for not expelling rogue Labor Senator Fatima Payman

21 minutes ago

Former Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale and wife Julie Neale announce baby news

21 minutes ago

Toronto's Zach Edey eyes top 20 pick as Raptors continue rebuild in NBA draft

21 minutes ago

Aston Martin Valiant: A Hardcore Track Star With a Manual

21 minutes ago

Wes Streeting says Labour's rail nationalisation plan would bring down fares

21 minutes ago

Anthony Joshua set to land chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion against Daniel Dubois on September 21... as Oleksandr Usyk VACATES his IBF belt after taking rematch with Tyson Fury

21 minutes ago

Kevin Rudd joins Julian Assange as he arrives for court appearance

21 minutes ago

Now Nigel Farage suggests Zelensky should make peace with Putin

21 minutes ago

Multi-talented Kea Zawadi first female presenter of Algoa FM Top 30

21 minutes ago

5 free agents Kaizer Chiefs could bring to Naturena to bolster their squad

26 minutes ago

ESPN analyst ranks Patriots defense as top-five unit in NFL

26 minutes ago

Daybreak Foods, YES Programme partner to combat youth unemployment

26 minutes ago

CNBC Daily Open: Nvidia rallies after sell-off, lifts S&P 500 and Nasdaq

30 minutes ago

Gavin Newsom blasts 'delusional California bashers' in speech

30 minutes ago

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Teasing Answers to a Big Qunari Mystery

30 minutes ago

Fed's Bowman Says 'Not Yet' Appropriate to Cut Rates

30 minutes ago

Why Dunkin' Donuts' New Commercial Actress Looks So Familiar

30 minutes ago

Costly election pledges in France stoke fears of splurges that risk pushing country deeper into debt

30 minutes ago

Mark Cuban offloads 14 NFTs from his collection in two days

30 minutes ago

Rashee Rice on maturity: 'This is a step in a better direction for me'