Pressure mounts on Poilievre to refocus Conservative campaign on Donald Trump

Open this photo in gallery:Pierre Poilievre is facing mounting discontent over campaign manager Jenni Byrne’s handling of strategy and operations, multiple sources say, citing what they call her unwillingness to pivot from attacks on the Liberal government record to a laser focus on the trade war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump.The Globe and Mail spoke to 17 Conservatives, who are close to the campaign, and they describe a dysfunctional organization with tensions rising as public-opinion polls show the Liberals now ahead of the Poilievre-led party.They say Ms. Byrne has belittled campaign workers; given top staff positions to people who work for her consulting company; and discounted advice from party stalwarts, including onetime cabinet ministers, premiers and top advisers to former prime minister Stephen Harper.Both Mr. Poilievre and Ms. Byrne rejected appeals from veteran party insiders – beginning in January – to switch from talking about consumer carbon pricing and cost-of...