Tories’ ‘ruthless’ plan for Labour heartland

SENIOR Tories are plotting a “ruthless strategy” to target 30 northern Labour seats in a copycat plan of their 2015 “decapitation” of the Liberal Democrats.

Sources on the party’s executive board and in Number 10 told this newspaper that Theresa May planned to target Labour’s heartlands after the Copeland victory.

It is believed that the party’s “just about managing” agenda and Brexit support means they are perfectly positioned to make gains in the North.

The Conservatives’ historic victory and what it shows about the party’s appeal is expected to be discussed tomorrow when the party board meets.

At the 2015 general election the Tories won their unexpected majority in part through a “decapitation strategy” towards the Lib Dems in the South East. The tactic against their Coalition partners was largely carried out under the radar with targeted mail and online advertising.

One Tory Party board member told

“There was a ruthless strategy of targeting vulnerable Lib Dem seats in the last parliament. There was something in the region of 30 potentially we were going after.

“You can expect to see that strategy now almost moved across to looking at 30 or so Labour seats in the North that could be highly vulnerable.”

The board member added: “Last time it was particularly focused on the Liberal Democrats [but] many similar issues are now bubbling away in safe Labour seats.”

Figures close to the Prime Minister believe her appeal to “just about managing” families and Labour’s collapse under Jeremy Corbyn means she can win over Left-wing voters.

“The Prime Minister’s political positioning is she wants to be the centreground candidate. She has explicitly talked about that,” a Number 10 source said.

“The point about being the centre ground candidate is that you attract the people on the Left wing rather than appealing to the right and going deliberately after Ukip voters.”