Major's party, defending around 4,000 of 12,000 seats at stake across England and Wales but excluding London, will be lucky if they lose just 1,000 of them, according to pollsters and academic experts. Some believe the Conservatives could lose up to half the seats they hold.
Such a humiliation would prompt a new bout of speculation in political circles that a formal challenge to Major's 4-1/2-year leadership of his party could be launched by disaffected members of parliament.
When the seats were last contested four years ago, the Conservatives won 35 percent of the vote compared with 36 percent for the Labour Party and 21 percent for the minority Liberal Democrats.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.