Tory peer Stuart Rose A Conservative peer has offered up a surprise boost for Keir Starmer as he would still vote for Labour despite the government’s difficult time in office. Lord Rose , the chairman of Asda , told LBC that there is widespread frustration with Labour – but suggested that’s still better than the alternatives. “We’re in a situation now where I think many people in this country would be disappointed with the government they have elected,” Rose told LBC. “We’ve now got a situation where I don’t believe the Conservatives can make a recovery in time for the next election. “So let’s assume it’s the election after that. “You are now going to find yourself in a very difficult situation in 2027, ’28, ’29, where if Labour don’t start delivering some [economic] growth, the Conservatives haven’t recovered in time, and you’ve got the other option  – what are you going to vote for? “Are you going to vote for Reform or are you going to vote for a second government?” He said: “I would vote for another Labour government, but I would want some change in the meantime.” Asked why he would vote for another round of Labour, he said: “It’s a question of degrees of pain, isn’t it? “If I can’t have a resurgent Conservative Party, and they’ve got a lot of work to do to make themselves re-electable – or I’ve got the alternative, which, frankly, is supping with the devil.” Asked what Kemi Badenoch has to do to secure the Tory peer’s vote again, he said: “She’s got to be doing more of what she’s begun now, I think, but I just think, it does, in all these things, require time, and I’m not sure time is on their side.” ‘Why would you vote Labour?’ ‘It's a question of degrees of pain.' Conservative peer Lord Rose explains why he would vote against his party in future elections. pic.twitter.com/yKdhbM6eIY — LBC (@LBC) December 25, 2025 Related... Tory Tory Can't Answer Painfully Easy Question About Conservatives In Wales 'The Conservative Party Is Over': Tory Shadow Minister Defects To Reform UK After Yet Another Tory Defection, Reform Are Starting To Look A Lot Like The Conservatives 2.0