According to a new book detailing the final days of the Conservative government, former Prime Minister David Cameron attempted to dissuade Rishi Sunak from calling an early general election. The report suggests that Cameron warned the Prime Minister against the move, citing the potential for a significant electoral defeat. Despite these private reservations, Cameron maintained a public stance of support for Sunak’s decision once the campaign officially began.

The account highlights a tension between private political counsel and public party loyalty. While Cameron had expressed concerns about the timing and the risk of a 'Tory wipeout,' he did not disclose these disagreements to the public or the media during the campaign. Instead, he publicly defended Sunak’s judgment, stating that the Prime Minister was correct to seek a new mandate from the electorate.

This revelation adds to the growing post-mortem analysis of the Conservative Party's performance in the 2024 election. Critics of the party’s strategy have pointed to the timing of the election as a key factor in the scale of the defeat, while supporters of the former administration have argued that the decision was a necessary step to provide clarity. The book’s claims suggest that even within the senior ranks of the party, there was significant internal skepticism regarding the strategy that ultimately led to the party losing its majority.