Rishi Sunak fumes as Keir Starmer alludes to him being backstabbed
Rishi Sunak’s struggles as Tory leader have been brutally exposed by a new survey suggesting cratering support among votes is cratering.
Savanta pollster Chris Hopkins has suggested MPs could even be tempted to ditch him in a last-ditch bid to generate a “new leader bounce” before the general election later this year.
Savanta’s poll, published yesterday, makes grim reading for the PM, with his net favourability rating at -27 - his second-lowest ever level.
There is some encouragement for the Tories in that they have cut Labour’s lead to 14 points, compared with 17 points last month - but Mr Hopkins said it would be scant consolation to the beleaguered 43-year-old former Chancellor, who succeeded Liz Truss in October 2022.
Former minister Sir Simon Clarke MP this week broke ranks by calling for Mr Sunak to quit - and while numerous colleagues have been careful to distance themselves, the possibility of the PM being forced out by a backbench rebellion is not out of the question.
READ MORE: EU threatens ‘nuclear option’ if Viktor Orban blocks ￡43bn for Ukraine
Stay up-to-date with the latest Politics news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's net approval rating is -27, the poll indicates (Image: PA)
Mr Hopkins told Express.co.uk: "This is absolutely the ‘supports a perennially relegation-threatened League Two team’ part of me, but I guess there is a theory that continually generating a ‘new manager bounce’ is sometimes enough to stay up.
“I’m not saying the Tories should have three leaders this year, but I do think there’s some credence to the idea that a correctly timed new leader bounce could improve their fortunes enough to avoid the defeat current polling would indicate.”
However, he added: “I do think there are a number of barriers to that: firstly there appears to be a lack of a unifying figure on the right that is going to generate public positivity.
“Secondly, there are so many MPs standing down/retiring that simply don’t care about holding their seat, I’m not sure they’ll generate the enthusiasm for revolt.
Don't miss...
Outrage at threat to strip over-70s of driving licences over eyesight tests [INSIGHT]
EU must beg UK for nuclear arsenal over bloc's threat from Russia, insider says [ANALYSIS]
Real reason Simon Clarke's botched leadership coup to oust Rishi Sunak failed [VIDEO]
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's popularity has also fallen, the survey suggests (Image: PA)
“Thirdly, obviously it’s not a normal electoral strategy to have four leaders in three years and think it can benefit you. But I just don’t think they have much else to lose."
The poll, 2,017 UK adults aged 18 and over who were interviewed online between January 19 and 21, puts Labour on 43 percent, the Tories on 29, the Liberal Democrats on 10 percent, Reform UK on eight, the Greens on four and the SNP on three.
Mr Sunak's net rating is beaten only by the -28 he recorded in November 2023, although Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has little to crow about either, with his favourability rating on -8, down seven points compared with December. However, he is seen as the best Prime Minister, on 40 percent, ten points ahead of Mr Sunak.
Mr Hopkins said: "In what has been a difficult week for Rishi Sunak, this polling is something of a mixed bag. On the one hand, Sunak's personal ratings continue to flatline, with the recent negative trend regarding his net favourability continuing, and Starmer holding a commanding lead over him in terms of the Best Prime Minister.
Sir Simon Clarke, pictured with the considerably shorter Rishi Sunak, believes he should step down (Image: GETTY)
Trending
“But Labour's smaller lead here - while it could be an outlier - may provide a crumb of comfort."
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Who is Simon Clarke? The Tory MP leading revolt against Rishi Sunak
26 Comments
Lee Anderson urges Tories to unite 'as one' behind Rishi Sunak
145 Comments
All the runners and riders to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory chief - with one clear favourite
893 Comments
Tory rebels pinpoint the exact moment Simon Clarke's anti-Rishi Sunak revolt will explode
43 Comments
Penny Mordaunt may be the troubled Tories' ticket to success
7 Comments
POLL: Who will you blame most if the Tories lose the next election?
242 Comments
Change voters' opinions, not the leader yet again, says Leo McKinstry
5 Comments
Tories issue Scottish independence warning as Humza Yousaf invites Keir Starmer for talks
96 Comments
Reform UK now just seven points behind the Tories as they explode forwards in polls
948 Comments
Rishi Sunak blasted by Tory MP Simon Clarke demanding he resign
1174 Comments
Rishi Sunak has 48 hours to save his job as Prime Minister with Rwanda Bill rebellion
663 Comments
Inside story of how fresh Tory meltdown unfolded as MP warns: 'Nobody likes Rishi Sunak!'
884 Comments
Tory fury explodes at Simon Clarke's ‘totally mad' demand for Rishi Sunak to resign as PM
155 Comments
Tory MPs are already in defection talks with Reform UK, claims leader Richard Tice
1733 Comments
Deluded rebels are not doing the party or nation any favours
3 Comments
Why Simon Clarke's botched leadership coup to oust Rishi Sunak failed
53 Comments
Simon Clarke breaks silence as he faces backlash over demand for Rishi Sunak to be ousted
36 Comments
POLL: Should Rishi Sunak be replaced as Tory leader? Vote here
166 Comments
Rishi Sunak suffers catastrophic poll blow after being urged to quit
462 Comments
Simon Clarke's furious call to arms will show if Rishi Sunak's critics have any fight left
26 Comments
Who is Simon Clarke? The Tory MP leading revolt against Rishi Sunak
26 Comments
Lee Anderson urges Tories to unite 'as one' behind Rishi Sunak
145 Comments
All the runners and riders to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory chief - with one clear favourite
893 Comments
Tory rebels pinpoint the exact moment Simon Clarke's anti-Rishi Sunak revolt will explode
43 Comments
Penny Mordaunt may be the troubled Tories' ticket to success
7 Comments
POLL: Who will you blame most if the Tories lose the next election?
242 Comments
Change voters' opinions, not the leader yet again, says Leo McKinstry
5 Comments
Tories issue Scottish independence warning as Humza Yousaf invites Keir Starmer for talks
96 Comments
Reform UK now just seven points behind the Tories as they explode forwards in polls
948 Comments
Rishi Sunak blasted by Tory MP Simon Clarke demanding he resign
1174 Comments
Rishi Sunak has 48 hours to save his job as Prime Minister with Rwanda Bill rebellion
663 Comments
Inside story of how fresh Tory meltdown unfolded as MP warns: 'Nobody likes Rishi Sunak!'
884 Comments
Tory fury explodes at Simon Clarke's ‘totally mad' demand for Rishi Sunak to resign as PM
155 Comments
Tory MPs are already in defection talks with Reform UK, claims leader Richard Tice
1733 Comments
Deluded rebels are not doing the party or nation any favours
3 Comments
Why Simon Clarke's botched leadership coup to oust Rishi Sunak failed
53 Comments
Simon Clarke breaks silence as he faces backlash over demand for Rishi Sunak to be ousted
36 Comments
POLL: Should Rishi Sunak be replaced as Tory leader? Vote here
166 Comments
Rishi Sunak suffers catastrophic poll blow after being urged to quit
462 Comments
Simon Clarke's furious call to arms will show if Rishi Sunak's critics have any fight left
26 Comments
Who is Simon Clarke? The Tory MP leading revolt against Rishi Sunak
26 Comments
Lee Anderson urges Tories to unite 'as one' behind Rishi Sunak
145 Comments
All the runners and riders to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory chief - with one clear favourite
893 Comments
Tory rebels pinpoint the exact moment Simon Clarke's anti-Rishi Sunak revolt will explode
43 Comments
Penny Mordaunt may be the troubled Tories' ticket to success
7 Comments
POLL: Who will you blame most if the Tories lose the next election?
242 Comments
Change voters' opinions, not the leader yet again, says Leo McKinstry
5 Comments
He added: ”Ultimately, the poll perhaps indicates the conundrum Tory MPs and Sunak himself faces.
“The Conservative brand has not recovered from its hammering at the hands of Johnson and Truss, and Sunak himself has failed to inspire any tangible or sustained polling recovery.
“Yet there remains a sense he could, that Labour's lead is somewhat soft, and all is not yet lost ahead of this year's election."
Related articles Labour peer explodes after being called 'love' on BBC Politics Live Lee Anderson urges Tories to unite 'as one' behind Rishi Sunak Next PM to endure the 'bleakest financial backdrops since the 1950s' The Tories are dead in the water unless they ditch Rishi Sunak - Carole Malone Penny Mordaunt may be the troubled Tories' ticket to success