Sunak woes deepen as poll ratings plunge to new low
RISHI Sunak’s favourability ratings have plunged to a new low according to polls as speculation around his leadership continues to grow.
Support for the Conservatives has plunged to just 19 per cent – the same as at Liz Truss’s lowest ebb, according to YouGov. Voters view both the Tories and Mr Sunak more unfavourably than at any other time during this parliament, a separate Ipsos Mori poll shows.
The results will come as a fresh headache for Mr Sunak who is battling to keep his restive MPs in check and shore up his position after suggestions of a plot to replace him with Leader of the house of Commons Penny Mordaunt.
Rumours also surfaced of a plot by Ms Truss to back Priti Patel as the next leader of the Conservative Party as MPs continued to discuss a potential replacement to the Prime Minisof ter. Speculation about future leaders is rife among panicking Tories.
The damning YouGov poll put the Tories on 19 per cent among voters – the same as Ms Truss’s lowest score and just four points ahead of Reform at 15 per cent.
The figure is down a point on last week, while Labour continues to lead the polls on 44 per cent of the vote, unchanged from last week.
The poll also revealed that only 46 per cent of those who voted Conservative in 2019 would back the party now.
Support among older people who traditionally back the Tories also sits at just 32 per cent, while 26 per cent say they will vote Reform and 23 per cent say they will back Labour.
Meanwhile, the separate Ipsos Mori poll found that more than half
voters – 58 per cent – view the Conservative Party negatively.
Just 19 per cent view them positively, giving a net favourability rating of minus 39, the lowest of all parties.
Mr Sunak is viewed unfavourably by 57 per cent.
This is the lowest rating among all the politicians that were included, such as Reform defector Lee Anderson (minus 35) and Nigel Farage (minus 33) the next worse.
Meanwhile, Labour’s favourability score is minus seven, with 34 per cent favourable and 41 per cent unfavourable. Sir Keir Starmer’s favourability is at minus 13, his deputy Angela Rayner is at minus 12 and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is minus 12.
The dire polling comes amid speculation that Mr Sunak could be replaced as leader, should such results continue in the future.
Suggestions that Ms Truss could back former home secretary Ms Patel were dismissed by representatives of both as ‘gossip and rumour’.
Ms Mordaunt, is another name in the frame.
Keiran Pedley, Ipsos director of politics, said: ‘As general election year progresses analysts are keeping a watchful eye for signs of the polls narrowing.’
‘Just four points ahead of Reform’