Voters say Rishi’s better than Boris – but not Sir Keir
VOTERS would rather have Rishi Sunak in the top job than Boris Johnson – but the Tory leader has a mountain to climb if he wants to stay in Downing Street.
The latest polling reveals strong support for a snap election within the next six weeks.
And more than two out of three voters believe there is a “culture of sleaze” in the Government.
When asked whether Mr Sunak or Sir Keir Starmer would make the best Prime Minister, four out of 10 opted for the Labour leader with just 32 per cent backing the PM. However, nearly half of those polled (48 per cent) did not know who would do the best job.
And when on a choice between the Prime Minister and his predecessor, the Redfield and Wilton Strategies polling found 40 per cent of people said Mr Sunak is the best one to lead the UK. Only 27 per cent said Mr Johnson would do better.
Forty per cent said Mr Sunak would give the Tories the best chance of winning the next election, with only 28 per cent saying his former boss.
The poll comes amid speculation the Prime Minister could face calls to stand down in favour of Mr Johnson if May council elections go badly.
Among Tory voters there was a slight majority who say Mr Johnson is more likely to lead the party to victory (41 per cent), compared with 38 per cent who said Mr Sunak.
And the survey makes clear the PM faces an uphill challenge ahead of the election expected next year.
More than two-thirds of people (67 per cent) think there is a “culture of sleaze”. This follows Nadhim Zahawi being sacked as party chairman for a “serious breach of the ministerial code” after failing to disclose his tax affairs were under investigation.
Only 27 per cent said Mr Sunak had upheld values of “integrity, professionalism and accountability” – and just 29 per cent approved of how he had handled the Zahawi debacle.
The Prime Minister may have further reason to worry because voters are keen to go to the polls. Fifty-two per cent would support an election being held in six weeks.and 61 per cent would support one this year.
The PM could be facing difficulty from another predecessor – Liz Truss.
The former PM has written an opinion piece for the Sunday Telegraph and is expected to give a TV interview as part of a PR blitz.
A friend said she would describe the “institutional barriers” which “prevented her from being able to deliver the mandate she got from the Tory party last summer”.
‘27% said Sunak upheld values’