Boris Johnson is hoping to strengthen his parliamentary majority to put an end to the Brexit deadlock which has gripped the Commons for the past three years. The Prime Minister pledged to ensure the UK quits the European Union on January 31, the new deadline agreed last month after pressure from MPs for a further extension. But Tory MP James Duddridge warned a marginal majority of 30 could still prevent Mr Johnson from delivering on his Brexit plans. 

The Rochford and Southend East MP told BBC Essex: “If we get a decent majority and everyone backs Brexit across the country, we’ll have a decent majority and we’ll leave on January 31.

“About 40-50 seats, which means we need to retain seats like Rochford and Southend East and we need to take traditionally-held Labour seats.

“People don’t want a Corbyn government, even Labour voters.”

Asked whether a smaller majority could still cause obstacles to the Prime Minister, Mr Duddridge added: “There’s a very real risk Brexit doesn’t get done on a majority of 20-30.

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“That’s the type of majority Theresa May had in 2015 and it didn’t work. We need parliamentarians that want to get Brexit done.”

Speaking to the CBI on Monday, the Prime Minister renewed his pledge to “get Brexit done” to help improve the “national mood” and maintain the economy.

Mr Johnson also warned that the UK must break the deadlock and move on with Brexit in order to finally welcome investment to the country.

The Prime Minister added that his Brexit deal was ready to go despite the current disillusionment from the public.

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Conservative candidates are targeting a swathe of seats in the Labour heartlands of the Midlands and the North, an area pollsters have dubbed the “red wall” due to longheld loyalty to the Labour Party.

Voters in the area are however belied to be considering a swing to the Conservatives due to leader Jeremy Corbyn’s muddled stance on Brexit. 

Speaking to Reuters, 62-year-old carer Jules Wilde from Crewe said she may be forced to vote for the Tory candidate in order to see Brexit delivered. She told Reuters: “I’d hate to vote Tory.

“If there was a way of not voting Tory and still getting Brexit, I’d do it.

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“I am a bit frustrated with this situation, yes. Because it’s a complete reversal … It’s like the Tory party who I never support are doing something that I support, when the Labour Party who I would always support are doing something totally different that I don’t support.”

Mr Corbyn pledged to scrap the Prime Minister’s withdrawal agreement and secure a new deal with the European Union within three months of taking over Number 10. He also said the party will hold a new referendum on the Labour deal to let the British people have their say.

In an address to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Mr Corbyn said: “The Tories’ Brexit failure has wasted three years. Enough. Labour has a clear plan to get Brexit sorted within six months.

“We’ll secure a sensible deal, including a customs union and a close single market relationship and guarantees of rights, standards and protections, that will protect manufacturing and the Good Friday Agreement, and then put that deal to a public vote alongside the option of remaining in the EU.

“Only a Labour government will take this out of the hands of politicians, and give the British people the final say.”

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