Tory grassroots turn on ‘soft deal’ Hammond
PHILIP Hammond’s support among Conservative members has plummeted following his push for a softer Brexit deal.
The Chancellor’s personal approval rating has dropped to a record low of -25.4 per cent after his proposals for a three-year transition period after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019.
Immediately before the general election he was at 32.4, about halfway up the table of Cabinet ministers’ approval ratings compiled by the website Conservative Home, based on a survey of grassroots Tories.
But his popularity has fallen among those who favour a harder Brexit and cutting all ties with Brussels, and he is now one from bottom with only Tory party chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin below him.
The survey was conducted last month when Mr Hammond set out his vision for Brexit. He said interim arrangements would likely restrict the UK from signing any new trade deals until after 2022.
Britain’s existing migration system would effectively remain in place and the UK would maintain access to the single market during the transition. Brexit Secretary David Davis remains at the top of the Cabinet league table, highlighting the importance of making a clean break from the EU for Conservative members.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd, another advocate of a softer Brexit, has also fallen from favour. Having previously been fifth from the top of the table, she is now eighth from the bottom of 28 Cabinet ministers and her approval ratings have halved.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon takes second place while Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary and one of the architects of Brexit, is third. Theresa May is now only just in negative territory, which suggests her position is very slowly recovering.
A separate survey by the website published on Monday showed that the Prime Minister’s reputation among members is improving.
Last month, 15 per cent said she should announce her resignation as party leader. This has dropped to 11 per cent, while 36 per cent said she should not, up from 27 per cent.
Despite his high approval rating in the Cabinet league table, Mr Davis was not the most popular Tory politician. Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson took the top spot with an approval rating of 81.9.