Some Conservative Party supporters have cancelled their memberships following the announcement that Rishi Sunak is set to be prime minister, with one voter of more than 40 years saying they felt as though the party “has been destroyed from within”.
While some felt “delighted” by the news, others said the move has left them “fuming” that party members were not able to vote for Mr Sunak to take over from Liz Truss.
Lyn Bond, a 60-year-old retired nurse who has voted Conservative since she was 18, sent an email to cancel her membership after it was confirmed the MP for Richmond will lead the party.
“The whole thing is rather sad because, for a party that had such a wonderful win in 2019, it has been destroyed from within,” Ms Bond, from Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, said.
“I can’t bring myself after 40 years to support them anymore, I don’t trust them.
“I feel awash on a boat in the ocean not knowing where to go, what to do.
“I’ve never doubted what I voted for, ever, until today.”
Samuel Jukes, a retail worker from Birmingham who joined the Tories in 2019 and was supporting Boris Johnson in the contest, said a general election should now be called as Mr Sunak “has no mandate”.
“I’m fuming right now, we never voted for Rishi Sunak,” the 33-year-old told PA.
“I’m considering leaving, not decided yet but I see a lot of members are canceling their memberships and I might be the same… Rishi has no mandate.
“Right now I’m ashamed to be a Conservative member.”