The only real fight yet to be won is the battle to ensure there is an effective Opposition

THE clamour of debate and dispute is over.

- Leo McKinstry

The hour of decision has arrived. As the politicians finally leave the stage after six weeks of campaigning, it is now up to the British people to choose who governs our great country and, perhaps more importantly, who provides the effective Opposition.

Every General Election is important in setting the nation's course. But no contest in modern times has been more momentous than this one. Its outcome looks likely to transform Britain's political landscape, causing the biggest realignment in our two-party system for at least a century.

If the opinion polls are remotely accurate, then history could be made on an epic scale today with Labour achieving by far the greatest landslide since Britain became a democracy. The only real fight yet to be won is the battle to ensure there is an effective Opposition to properly hold Sir Keir Starmer to account.

Many traditional Tory voters will inevitably be swayed by the noise of Reform but this is a time for calm heads and backing for proper Conservatism, to vote for a rebuilt Tory party that properly pursues the issues that matter to decent, fair-minded Britons.

Lower taxes as part of a well-run economy, less intrusion by the state, a free entrepreneurial spirit, a war against wokery and the denigration of women's rights and, of course, proper solutions to the major crises of escalating immigration and NHS waiting lists.

Crime must be properly targeted with more police officers, our defence budget bolstered to ward off Russian threats and our children educated to the highest possible level in all our schools.

This should not be too much to ask of the next Tory leader.

Loyal

But to get to a position where that person has an effective power base to stand up to Labour there must be a groundswell of loyal support behind the Tories today.