Rishi Sunak told he could tempt Reform voters back to the Tories if he offers a ... trends now
Rishi Sunak has been told he could tempt Reform UK supporters to vote Tory at the election if he offers a referendum on cutting net migration to the tens of thousands.
New research has shown that more than two-fifths of all Reform supporters would be more likely to vote for the Tories if the PM made such a pledge.
A survey found 42 per cent of Reform supporters might switch to the Tories if Mr Sunak offered a national vote on reducing net migration from the current level of around 700,000 a year to less than 100,000.
There is increasing panic within Tory ranks about the rising popularity of Reform, amid growing fears of a Conservative wipeout at the general election.
The Nigel Farage-backed insurgent party were recently boosted by the defection of ex-Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson to their ranks.
It has now been claimed there are 'soundings going on all the time' about whether more Conservative MPs might quit the party and also join Reform.
Rishi Sunak has been told he could tempt Reform UK supporters to vote Tory at the election if he offers a referendum on cutting net migration to the tens of thousands
A survey found 42% of Reform supporters might switch to the Tories if the PM offered a national vote on reducing net migration from 700,000 a year to less than 100,000
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that net migration stood at 672,000 in the 12 months to June 2023
Reform were recently boosted by the defection of ex-Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson to their ranks
Research by the Legatum Institute, based on a survey of more than 3,400 self-identified supporters of Reform, found those who back the insurgent party are 'overhwelmingly concerned about illegal and legal immigration'.
A new report published by the think tank said: 'We suggest that unless these strong concerns about both illegal and legal immigration are addressed, concerns which are shared by much of the rest of the population, then there will remain ample space for Reform UK, or a party like it, in the years and decades ahead.'
Latest figures from the Office for National
