British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has braced Tory MPs for possible defeats in Thursday's three by-elections, but promised them he will outline his vision to win over voters in the coming months.
At a meeting of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers on the eve of the polls, Mr Sunak said that they faced a "tough battle" in what were once seen as safe seats for the Tories.
He told them that governing parties rarely win by-elections but urged the MPs to unite in the face of any defeat as he pledged to "throw everything" at winning the next general election, sources said.
The next nationwide poll is scheduled to be held by January 2025.
The polls opened early this morning and will close at 10pm tonight.
Results are expected in the early hours of Friday morning.
Labour hopes to take the West London constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, which was Boris Johnson's seat until he quit.
The then-prime minister had a majority of 7,210 when the seat was last contested at the general election in 2019, with Labour coming in second place.
A divisive car emissions scheme introduced by Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London, has provided the battleground for the by-election.
Labour's candidate had sought to distance himself from the Ulez (ultra low emission zone) expansion, which will see many drivers in Uxbridge and South Ruislip slapped with daily charges. The Tories hope the controversial policy will swing the vote in their favour.
The Conservative Party are also hoping to cling on to the seat of Selby and Ainsty in North Yorkshire, vacated by the resignation of Mr Johnson's ally, Nigel Adams.
The Liberal Democrats are looking at victory in the contest in Somerton and Frome, vacated when Tory MP David Warburton quit after admitting to cocaine use amid allegations of sexual harassment. Mr Warburton had a majority of 19,213 at the last election, with the Lib Dems in second place.
Losses in all three of the seats would be the first time in 55 years that a government has been defeated in three by-elections on the same day. A triple loss would make Mr Sunak the first prime minister since Harold Wilson in 1968 to record such a dismal outcome/
"In the coming months, I am going to set out more of what I would do if I had a full term," Mr Sunak was understood to have told his MPs on Wednesday evening.
Rishi Sunak through the years - in pictures
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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces July 4 as the date for the 2024 general election at No 10 Downing Street. Here, The National looks back at his political career. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during local election campaigning in Teesside in May 2024. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak presents cupcakes to journalists on board a plane on the way to Warsaw in April 2024. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during a press conference in Downing Street in January after the Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons. Getty Images -
Being applauded after his speech at the Conservative Party conference in October 2023. Getty Images -
Looking pensive alongside then-home secretary Suella Braverman at No 10 in October 2023. She didn't last much longer in the cabinet. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak sits in an old Special Branch police vehicle which was used to transport former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, in July 2023. Getty Images -
On board Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover in June 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arriving in Japan ahead of the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sending a message at Accrington Market Hall in January 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Ukraine's capital Kyiv in November 2022. Getty Images -
King Charles III welcomes Mr Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government in October 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak makes a statement outside No 10 in October 2022 after taking office. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives inside Number 10 in October 2022. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street -
Greeted by colleagues at Conservative Party HQ after having been announced winner of the leadership contest in October 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak at Westminster Hall in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. PA -
Mr Sunak visits his family's old business, Bassett Pharmacy, on the campaign trail in August 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak looks at an NLAW anti-tank launcher during a visit to the Thales Defence System plant in Belfast in August 2022. Getty Images -
At a hustings event in Exeter in August 2022. Getty Images -
Celebrates England's first goal as he watches the Women's Euro 2022 final in Salisbury in July 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss take part in the BBC Leadership debate at Victoria Hall, Hanley, in July 2022. Getty Images -
With daughters Krisna and Anoushka and wife Akshata Murthy in July 2022. Getty Images -
Opening the Great Ayton Village Fete during the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ms Murthy speak to then-Prince Charles at a British Asian Trust event in February 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 when he was chancellor. Getty Images -
Holding the budget box as he departs 11 Downing Street to deliver his Autumn Budget in October 2021. Getty Images -
At a press conference on the 2021 Budget in London in March 2021. Getty Images -
With former prime minister Boris Johnson during a visit to PD Ports on the River Tees in March 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak poses with the budget box at 11 Downing Street in March 2021. Getty Images -
Meeting staff back at work after being furloughed at Hamleys toy shop in London, December 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Mr Sunak visits the Imperial Clinic Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital, London, in November 2020. Getty Images -
Lighting a candle for Diwali on Downing Street, November 2020. Getty Images -
Working on a speech in his flat above 11 Downing Street in November 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak visit the headquarters of Octopus Energy in London in October 2020. Getty Images -
With his 'Winter Economy Plan' outside 11 Downing Street in September 2020. AFP -
Decorating a plate at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke pottery in September 2020. Getty Images -
Promoting 'eat out to help out' on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, in August 2020. Getty Images -
A member of the public takes a selfie with Rishi Sunak during a visit to Scotland in August 2020. AFP -
Visiting a Wagamama restaurant in central London in July 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Rishi Sunak visits a Pret A Manger in Westminster in July 2020. HM Treasury -
With Mr Johnson at his first Cabinet meeting after a reshuffle at 10 Downing Street in February 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak speaks during a general election debate in Cardiff in November 2019. Getty Images
"I was recently described as a full-spectrum modern Conservative and you are going to see that in the programme I lay out."
Mr Sunak pledged to show the public "who is really on their side".
"And that is what will propel us to victory."
He was conscious of the battle he will face if voters roundly reject the Tory candidates, but urged MPs to unite for a general election expected next year.
"When we come back in September we have a choice to make, all of us," Mr Sunak said. "Do we come together and throw everything at winning the next election or not?
"I've made my choice, I'm all in with you to win. I promise you we can do this but we can only do it together as one team."
Tory backbencher Jonathan Gullis told reporters outside the meeting that the problem is "apathetic Conservative voters" rather than the public's support for Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Mr Gullis said Mr Sunak told them "what we already know, which is it's going to be a tough battle" in the by-elections.
Tory MPs at the meeting said he did not address suggestions that he could spring a Cabinet reshuffle on Friday to try to reset his premiership.
During a visit to Warwickshire, Mr Sunak told reporters: "You would never expect me to comment on things like that."
He welcomed a fall in the rate of inflation as proof that his government's plans were working.
Mr Sunak's press secretary acknowledged it would be tough for the Tories to hold the three seats on Thursday.
"By-elections for incumbent governments are very difficult. That is the nature of them," she said.
"The election that the Conservative Party is most focused on is the general election."
Mr Johnson held London's Uxbridge constituency with a 7,000 majority when he was prime minister at the last general election in 2019.
Mr Adams secured North Yorkshire's Selby and Ainsty with a 20,000 majority that night, a similar margin to Mr Warburton's victory in his Somerset seat.
