Reform Party Surges As Rishi Sunak’s Popularity Plummets Among Tories

Rishi Sunak’s popularity has dropped dramatically among Tory voters. (Press Association via AP Images)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his cabinet are facing a sharp decline in popularity according to new polls, as discontent among grassroots Conservatives and the wider electorate grows.

Sunak’s own approval rating has plummeted to -25.4 points, marking him as the least popular member of his cabinet, according to Conservative Home.

The comprehensive study by JL Partners, reported by Bloomberg, indicates that the Conservative Party, under his direction, has experienced a “year of decline,” culminating in an “implosion” of the Tory vote. This downturn in support places the Labour Party in prime position to win the next general election.

Notably, only 59% of voters who supported the Conservatives in 2019 continue to back them under Sunak’s leadership. This figure represents a substantial drop from 74% last August and 63% in the aftermath of former Prime Minister Liz Truss’ “mini-budget” crisis in September 2022.

Sunak’s challenges are compounded by the growing appeal of the Reform UK to former Tory voters, with one in six 2019 Conservative supporters switching allegiance to this right-wing party. Reform UK is led by Richard Tice and was founded by Nigel Farage, both men work as hosts at GB News.

Further exacerbating the Prime Minister’s troubles, another survey Conservative Home described his latest rating as “dire” and describe the situation as “a damaged landscape.”

Home Secretary James Cleverly also experienced a dramatic fall in popularity among Tory members, dropping from the top spot to 22nd, following comments on the controversial Rwanda asylum policy.

Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, emerged as the most popular cabinet member among the Conservative grassroots, with a commanding score of 63.4 points. Her strong showing positions her as a potential successor to Sunak if the Conservatives face defeat in the next election.