The wisdom in Westminster is that the Tories have a mountain to climb if they want to win the general election.

If only the party's task was so simple. A devastating new poll today suggests the route to victory is more like scaling the north face of the Eiger… in carpet slippers.

Lord Ashcroft's findings make sobering reading indeed. If they prove even partly accurate, the Conservatives are heading for a historic, even existential, defeat.

The survey shows just how badly the Tories have lost voters' confidence. On every major policy issue – from the economy to defence and immigration – they now trail Labour.

Incredibly, the public even believes Labour would make a better fist of Brexit. 

The wisdom in Westminster is that Rishi Sunak and the Tories have a mountain to climb if they want to win the general election

Sir Keir's constant reneging on policy pledges have made him appear deeply untrustworthy

Considering Sir Keir Starmer was at the forefront of shameful efforts to scupper our departure from the EU, this is a remarkable shift in public perception.

So what can Rishi Sunak do to shift the dial? The Prime Minister must focus on the public's priorities. 

Planning to ban young people from ever smoking is all very well, but surely there are more pressing matters?

The NHS seems to be in a permanent state of crisis, the asylum system needs fixing and our military is in a precarious state.

EXCLUSIVEREAD MORE: The Tories trail Labour on EVERY major political issue including defence, tax, migration and even Brexit, landmark poll finds... But 45% of voters still DON'T want a Starmer government

Voters also want Mr Sunak to get the Rwanda scheme up and running, creating a deterrent to those coming to Britain illegally. 

He must face down the Lords who, determined to wreck the Bill, last night inflicted two more defeats on it.

With supreme irony, they argue the African nation is unsafe because it 'doesn't have a long tradition of democracy'. 

This is rich coming from unelected peers scheming to thwart the elected Commons' will.

There is, though, good news for Mr Sunak on the economy. Inflation is falling. Interest rates could soon follow.

With the significant reductions in National Insurance taking effect, people will soon feel the difference in their pockets.

The other crumbs of comfort for Rishi Sunak is that there is no excitement for a Starmer government. 

Labour has no compelling vision to grab the public's imagination, only a gaping policy void.

Sir Keir's constant reneging on policy pledges have also made him appear deeply untrustworthy. 

So does this apparently forensic barrister's incuriosity over Angela Rayner's tangled tax affairs.

For the Tories, retaining power will be a daunting challenge. Mr Sunak must take the fight to Labour and focus on delivering traditional Tory policies. 

Only then can he lead his party out of the electoral foothills.

Closing down debate

The Belgian court decision to allow the National Conservative conference to convene in Brussels is a welcome victory for freedom of speech.

A judge stepped in after a local socialist mayor ordered armed police to break up the peaceful meeting of centre-Right figures, including leading British politicians.

The progressive Left brands anyone whose views they dislike as 'fascist', yet clearly sees no problem in resorting to Putin-esque thuggery to silence their political enemies.

What really sends shivers down the spine is that Labour seems intensely relaxed about such a disturbing abuse of power.

The Belgian court decision to allow the National Conservative conference to convene in Brussels is a welcome victory for freedom of speech. Pictured: Nigel Farage leaves after police block the entrance to the  National Conservatism conference on Tuesday

As news filtered through that the police were attempting to shut down the NatCon conference, the party's frontbenchers chortled with undisguised delight.

This is a reminder that for all its pious talk on human rights, the Left loathes freedom of speech and association for its opponents.

With Labour seemingly on the brink of winning power, this is a terrifying prospect for the future of democratic debate.