![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4990530.jpg?r=1696284732416\")
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Rishi Sunak is planning a series of “bold” announcements that will focus on what is “best for Britain” to put the Tories on the path to election victory.<\/p>\n
He will pitch himself to voters as the \u201cchange\u201d candidate, willing to take tough decisions such as ditching the next phase of the costly HS2 rail line.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister will set out his vision for the country in his keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference tomorrow. A source close to the PM said: \u201cThere is a path to victory. It\u2019s difficult but it can be done.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about who can be the change candidate and that\u2019s what Rishi is going to show.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will be setting out a bold vision for the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cTough decisions need to be taken but he will do what is right for the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter to him if some people criticise \u2013 he will do what he believes is the right thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will make decisions based upon the facts and his own conviction of what\u2019s best for Britain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak is understood to believe that he can pitch himself as the \u201cchange\u201d candidate at the next election despite the Tory Party\u2019s 13-year rule.<\/p>\n
Allies say the fact that he is less than a year into the job and has been in the Cabinet for only three years means he is not weighed down by the legacy of previous Governments and can look at issues from a fresh perspective.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> The ‘real reason’ why Rishi Sunak is set to axe HS2 Manchester link<\/strong><\/p>\n The PM \u201cdoes things differently\u201d and plans to be bolder after a cautious start focused on stabilising the economy, it was said.<\/p>\n At the core of his strategy is the need to bring down inflation to ease the financial pressure on households.<\/p>\n But he will use the speech to dip into his personal story to show what motivates his politics.<\/p>\n The Tories are planning for a pre-Christmas general election in 2024 when voters will have more money in their pockets.<\/p>\n Cabinet ministers say the national poll will be in \u201c12 to 14 months\u201d with next year\u2019s Conservative Party conference at the heart of the campaign.<\/p>\n Mr Sunak could push the vote as far as January 2025 and there has also been speculation that he could go as early as the coming spring. But his top team is preparing for the PM to announce the vote around this time next year.<\/p>\n The party is ramping up its grassroots operation with plans to double the number of campaign managers as it gets on an election footing.<\/p>\n Senior Tories believe they can win if the people feel better off and fear Labour is not on their side.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n One Cabinet Minister said: \u201cPeople who voted for us in 2019 are looking for a reason to vote for us again.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes down to it, does anybody believe that Labour will cut taxes? They didn\u2019t do it under Blair so they definitely won\u2019t under Starmer.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd on small boats, the numbers are coming down but under Starmer it would be a free-for-all.\u201d<\/p>\n Senior ministers believe an early election would not give the party enough time for the economy to recover and fear the impact will \u00adfilter through to the public. One said falling inflation will only register with voters once the costs of the weekly shop and filling up the car with petrol stop rising.<\/p>\n Labour had been ahead in the polls by around 20 points recently.<\/p>\n But the PM\u2019s announcement of delaying net zero policies that would have cost families thousands of pounds has seen the lead cut by 10 points.<\/p>\n The Opinium research published on Sunday put Labour on 39% and the Conservatives on 29% \u2013 much closer than before. Tories insist that the figures show that Sir Keir\u2019s lead is \u201csoft\u201d as voters do not warm to the Labour leader and can still be won over.<\/p>\n One Cabinet minister said criticism that Mr Sunak is yet to set out a big vision for the country is a positive as he has a \u201cblank page\u201d to draw on now that he has made progress on economic stability.<\/p>\n But the senior Tory said the PM must do more to win over younger voters. The minister said: \u201cHe needs to make a big offer on housing to attract new people.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Sunak seems set to ditch the next phase of the costly HS2 line to Manchester as he clears the decks ahead of an election.<\/p>\n The decision follows costs Former PMs, including Boris Johnson and Theresa May, have called for the full line to be built.<\/p>\n Mr Sunak was seen applauding and posing for selfies with delegates during day two of the Conservative Party conference at the Manchester Central convention complex yesterday.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4990560.jpg?r=1696284732490\")
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Iain Duncan Smith just handed Sunak a list of 100 changes to make Brexit great[POLITICS] <\/strong>
Tory tax civil war will force Rishi Sunak to accept that Liz Truss was right[POLITICS] <\/strong>
Sunak to ‘abandon’ northern leg of promised HS2 scheme as he pulls funds[POLITICS] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4990547.jpg?r=1696284732537\")
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spiralling out of control and is expected to be buffered with an announcement of funding for local transport projects.<\/p>\n