You might think that while the ‘evil plotters’ plan moves to replace Sunak before the election, other Tory factions are resting on their laurels. No chance…

Guido hears Tory wet think tank Onward is quietly preparing a major polling and focus group project whose aim is to blame the Tories’ loss of the election on the right wing of the party and lay the groundwork for a leadership bid. That’s while their personnel gun for safe Tory seats this election…

Onward, founded by No 10’s Will Tanner, is reportedly set to hire pollster for the Remain campaign and Best for Britain James Kanagasooriam or Theresa May’s old pollster James Johnson to take up the project. With a six-figure price tag, the report will include extensive polling and focus groups – set to be published after an election defeat. Guido hears donors are being approached to fund the centrist putsch’s starting gun…

Onward doesn’t deny the plans: “As part of our Future Politics programme, we conduct regular opinion research and we’ll be doing the same again for the 2024 election, just as we did in 2019“. A senior Tory insider tells Guido: “There are real concerns about a plot to frame the post-election narrative and make sure a standard-bearer of the left is in pole position for the next leadership contest.” Sticking in the centre hasn’t worked so far for Rishi…