CONSERAVATIVE MPs say the party has descended into a “death spiral” having surrendered to Labour ahead of two by-elections this week.

MPs from across the party have told The Observer losses in Wellingborough and Kingswood on Thursday had already been “priced in”, as one figure claimed defeatism had set in.

Ministers and MPs have said they haven’t been told to drum-up last-minute votes in either area, which they say risked demoralising an already deflated party in the run-up to the General Election.

An ex-cabinet minister said: “The party hasn’t really tried.

READ MORE: UK Government yet to hold Cabinet meeting in flagship Edinburgh hub

“They’re expecting defeats. [It’s] rather demoralising.”

Another influential figure said of the by-elections: “They are very much priced into the death spiral.”

The Tories are defending a majority of more than 18,000 in Wellingborough while in Kingswood it’s majority was in excess of 11,000 in 2019.

A senior MP added that there had been no indication the party believed it could retain the two seats, saying: “A number of people have commented that normally you are inundated with messages from the whips’ office requesting – and in some cases requiring – that you go to each by-election on at least three occasions.

“That hasn’t happened in either seat, which is quite incredible.

“Trouble is brewing for Rishi, I’m afraid.”

In Wellingborough, the Conservatives opted to select the ousted Peter Bone’s partner as their candidate.

Bone was removed from office after a watchdog found he had bullied a staff member and exposed his genitals to them. Bone has denied this.

“It has not gone well,” said one senior Tory.

“MPs would rather that we had more resources to put into their seats that they have to defend at the General Election.”

Tory strategists say that instead of pouring resources into the by-elections, they are prioritising the party’s General Election campaign.

READ MORE: Scotland’s energy potential ‘impacted by limits of devolution’

It comes following a week where Labour would appear to be slightly vulnerable given their U-turn on spending £28 billion a year on green investment, but it does not seem to have dented their poll lead.

The latest Opinium poll for The Observer shows that Labour’s lead stands at 18 points – up two points from a fortnight ago. 

But polling expert John Curtice told The National claims surveys have showed Labour are gaining ground at the expense of the SNP are a “misrepresentation of the evidence”.

The professor argued that Labour's gains were mostly down to the Tories' political disasters - namely Boris Johnson's partygate scandal and the fallout from Liz Truss's mini-budget.

Curtice added that Labour are still backed “predominately” by Unionist voters.