The Conservative Party has reached a new low in voter support, according to a recent weekly tracker poll by Techne UK.
Following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a snap election, the Tories’ support has dropped to just 19 percent, marking the first time they have fallen below 20 percent in this poll.
Labour now holds a commanding 26-point lead, with leader Sir Keir Starmer viewing the upcoming July 4 election as an opportunity for change.
Starmer criticized Sunak, claiming the Prime Minister never believed in the viability of the controversial Rwanda deportation plan. Sunak recently admitted that deportation flights would not commence before the election, though he insisted that preparations were underway.
As campaign efforts kicked off, Sunak urged voters to support him, emphasizing the government’s key immigration policy.
Despite rumors of a potential Conservative rebellion to oust Sunak and cancel the election, a prominent critic within the party stated that it is too late to remove the Prime Minister.
The plan to hold a July election was a closely guarded secret, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reportedly starting to seriously consider the decision a month ago.
According to Tory insiders, Sunak finalized his decision after the local elections.
The choice to go ahead with a July election caused a split among his advisers.
Isaac Levido, the election strategist who helped Boris Johnson secure an 80-seat majority, advised waiting until the autumn. He believed that by then, the public might feel better off.
However, others, including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, argued that waiting was not an option.
They were aware that the economic recovery was slower than anticipated and that even if inflation dropped and interest rates were reduced, the government might not receive credit for the improvements.
Sunak was also concerned about appearing to cling to power and preferred to call the election on his own terms. His closest aides supported this view, fearing that conditions might deteriorate further by autumn.
Tory MPs Divided Over July Election
One Tory backbencher asked if the July election was a good idea, replied, “It’s a disaster. I can’t understand it.” Another said, “No.”
Despite concerns about the timing of the summer election, many Tory MPs remain determined to fight for their seats, working hard at the local level to win over voters even as the national outlook appears grim.
One veteran MP expressed his resolve: “Of course, I’m going to fight it. I don’t believe in just giving up like the Prime Minister has obviously decided to.”
Another MP, whose seat is on a knife-edge, was prepared to embrace the challenge. “I think there are colleagues who are more likely to lose than me, who perhaps feel it is a little indelicate,” the MP said, suggesting that Sunak had given little thought to the employment and financial prospects of those who might lose their positions.
Others were more optimistic. One even welcomed the move, saying Sunak “might as well go for broke.”
“It looks bold, catches Labour off guard, and flights to Rwanda might happen during the campaign. The timing matters less than the actual fight, and there’s a small advantage in going for it.”
A Tory MP
One Tory MP commented that it was a “perfectly respectable aim” for Sunak to try to minimize losses and prevent Labour from securing a large majority. However, the MP laughed at the notion that the Conservatives could still make a significant comeback.
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