The wives of Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt and James Cleverly have hit the campaign trail as the Conservatives fight to avoid electoral annihilation.

Akshata Murty, Lucia Hunt and Susie Cleverly joined culture secretary Lucy Frazer in her constituency of Ely and East Cambridgeshire on Wednesday.

The wives of the prime minister, chancellor and home secretary walked around Fordham, knocking on doors to speak to local residents and hand out Tory party leaflets.

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They were spotted taking selfies and laughing with residents and Conservative volunteers.

The group was dressed casually in jeans and sensible trainers, accessorised with dangly earrings, ready to stomp the streets in an effort to persuade people to vote for their husbands’ party in the 4 July election.

Mrs Hunt and Mrs Cleverly are rarely seen during official engagements, while Ms Murty normally only makes an appearance alongside her husband during state events.

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They appeared to be in good spirits on the sunny day as Rishi Sunak campaigned about 70 miles away at Sizewell B nuclear power station.

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With just over two weeks to go until polling day, the wives were deployed as the Tories continue to struggle to make any dent in the polls.

The latest poll, carried out by Ipsos and published on Tuesday, estimates Labour winning 453 seats and the Conservatives just 115, handing Sir Keir Starmer’s party a historic majority of 256.

It would also mean the Conservatives’ worst ever defeat.

While Labour have consistently enjoyed a 20-point lead in the polls, the Ipsos survey is the highest projection yet of what their majority could look like.

The poll also predicts the Lib Dems could win 38 seats, the Scottish National Party 15, three for the Green Party and three for Reform UK.

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The other candidates in Ely and East Cambridgeshire are:

Robert Bayley, SDP

Charlotte Cane, Liberal Democrats

Andy Cogan, Green Party

Ryan Coogan, Reform UK

Hoo-Ray Henry, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party

Elizabeth Williams, Labour Party

Obi Monye, Independent

Rob Rawlins, Independent

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