Tory MPS want Liz out, and Boris back
LONDON: More than half of Conservative Party members now think British Prime Minister Liz Truss should resign, and a large majority support a “coronation” of her successor by Tory MPS, a poll has found, with many favouring a return of ousted leader Boris Johnson.
In a sign of “buyers’ remorse”, a Yougov poll of more than 500 Tory members found that 55 per cent thought she should step down, as opposed to 38 per cent who thought she should stay in office.
Even among those who voted for Ms Truss in the leadership contest 39 per cent thought she should now quit.
More than twice as many members would now choose Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor of the exchequer, as Ms Truss if the l eadership election were rerun, the poll found: a margin of 55 per cent to 25 per cent. Ms Truss won that 57 per cent to 43 per cent.
The poll is likely to increase momentum among senior Tories looking for a unity candidate to succeed her. There had been concerns among MPS any attempt at replacement could trigger a revolt among grassroots supporters.
But the poll of Tory members found that 60 per cent would support MPS agreeing to a single unity candidate, effectively cutting out Tory members from the process.
Just 37 per cent would oppose such a “coronation”. The finding will increase pressure on the 1922 Committee of backbenchers to find a way of choosing a successor.
Exactly half would oppose another members’ vote if the contest came down to two candidates, with only 45 per cent wanting another say if MPS could not agree on a candidate.
The polling was conducted between Monday and Tuesday as Jeremy Hunt, the new chancellor, unveiled plans to rip up Ms Truss’s mini-budget.
It found Mr Johnson was the members’ favourite to take over, with 32 per cent saying he should return to No 10, ahead of Mr Sunak on 23 per cent.
Both candidates were well ahead of other prominent figures Ben Wallace, Penny Mordaunt and Kemi Badenoch.