Moaning Tories issued a desperate SOS to Boris Johnson to rescue the party’s election fortunes today.
Rattled Conservatives spooked by the local ballots disaster claimed only the shamed Partygate ex-Prime Minister could deliver another general election victory.
The Tories have lost hundreds of seats and control of several councils in a set of results Prime Minister Rishi Sunak admitted was "disappointing".
Former Tory MEP David Campbell Bannerman, who chairs the Conservative Democratic Organisation, told the BBC: “I don’t think we are getting our message across very well - people are very concerned about what we are doing, what we stand for and that has been very clear on the doorstep. It is, I’m afraid, the leadership.
“I think that the way that we got rid of Boris - I’ve spoken to quite a few people who regret that on the doorstep.”
The CDO was set up by Mr Johnson’s supporters in the aftermath of his humiliating resignation after his premiership was engulfed by a series of sleaze scandals.
The group plans to hold a conference in Bournemouth later this month where plotters are expected to secretly map out a potential comeback for the ex-PM.
Mr Campbell Bannerman blasted Mr Sunak’s economic approach for betraying “traditional” party values.
“We are putting up taxes - the highest taxes for 70 years and there’s a price to be paid for that. We want to get back to more traditional, Conservative policies,” he whined.
“It isn’t about ‘bring back Boris’, by the way - it is about party democracy.
“But it’s true that a lot of our members still like and rate Boris, as do many of the public.
“Given the scale of the challenge ahead, we shoudn’t rule that out as an option longer term.”
Mr Sunak is blamed by many party activists for triggering Mr Johnson’s downfall after quitting as Chancellor on July 5 last year.
That sparked an exodus of ministers, eventually forcing Mr Johnson to announce on July 7 that he would resign.
Mr Sunak stood in the race to succeed him but lost to winner Liz Truss.
She lasted just 49 days in No10 before resigning after unleashing economic turmoil on the UK.
Some loyalists to Mr Sunak claim the Tory shambles of last summer and autumn undermined the party, fuelling the local election hammering.
But a Conservative source said: "Sunak can’t blame these results on last year’s chaos.
“He started that chaos by knifing the most successful Tory election winner in 50 years.
“Sunak’s claim that stability has been restored is shot to bits.
“These results are on track to be catastrophic for the party.”
Speaking later to Times Radio, Mr Campbell Bannerman added: "It was MP self preservation that got rid of Boris - they thought they'd be better off without him - and now it's going to be MP self-preservation getting him back again.
“We're well adrift and I'm afraid that it has been because Boris has brought down with all the turbulence that resulted from it and Rishi is in the frame for that."
Instead of reacting to the Tory meltdown, Roman Catholic Mr Johnson issued a tweet celebrating Buddha.
“On this spiritual day of Vesak, we celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Buddha,” he posted.
“Let us reflect on his teachings of compassion, kindness, and peace, and strive to live by these values in our daily lives. May you be blessed.”
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