Tories at lowest in polls since Truss budget

THE Conservatives have sunk to their lowest poll rating since the “bloody aftermath” of Liz Truss’s misfiring minibudget, according to a survey.

The latest Telegraph-Savanta tracker poll shows just 24 per cent of respondents plan to vote Tory, compared with 44 per cent saying they back Labour.

That is the lowest Conservative vote share recorded by the pollster since one published on Oct 16 2022, a week before Ms Truss was forced to step down.

The finding challenges Downing Street’s argument that the Prime Minister can still win the next election.

It could also fuel private discussions among some Tory backbenchers about whether they should try to oust Rishi Sunak, an idea dismissed as idle speculation by No10.

The Telegraph has teamed up with Savanta in the election year to offer insights into what voters are thinking about the race, with results published every Tuesday night.

More than 2,200 people from across the United Kingdom were asked for their views between March 22 and March 24.

Reform, formerly known as the Brexit Party, remained the third most popular political party across the country, with 11 per cent of respondents backing it, while the Liberal Democrats are up a single percentage point on last week, with 10 per cent saying they plan to vote for Sir Ed Davey’s party.

Chris Hopkins, the political research director at Savanta, said: “With the Conservatives continuing to drop in the polls, Savanta has recorded its biggest Labour lead since September 2023.

“It is hard to envision, but there is no reason why things can’t get even worse for Rishi Sunak in the coming weeks. It doesn’t look like there are any readymade alternatives for the Conservatives to avoid electoral wipeout.”

Mr Sunak has ruled out a May 2 general election and is widely expected to call a vote for October or November.