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The Conservatives have hit their lowest vote share yet in a weekly tracker poll after voters apparently turned away from the party when Rishi Sunak called a snap election.
According to Techne UK, the Tories now have the support of just 19 per cent of voters – the first time the weekly tracker has had the party below 20 points.
It puts them 26 points behind Labour, whose leader Sir Keir Starmer has hailed the 4 July election as a chance to “turn the page”.
Sir Keir accused the prime minister of never having believed the Rwanda deportation plan would work after Mr Sunak conceded that flights would not take off before the election.
As the party leaders began their campaigns, Mr Sunak urged voters to back him over the government’s flagship immigration scheme.
He admitted planes carrying asylum seekers to Kigali would take off after polling day, but vowed the preparation had already happened.
Despite speculation about a Tory rebel effort to oust Mr Sunak and call off the election, one prominent critic said it was too late to get rid of the prime minister.
Key Points
- Conservatives hit new poll low, below 20 points for first time
- Sunak loses £1,000 bet with Piers Morgan on Rwanda flights
- Prime minister hopes record TV debates prevent polls wipeout
- MPs brand Sunak’s decision ‘the kamikaze election’
- 'Economy is going gangbusters’ claims Sunak
’Bleak’ outlook for Tories as they hit new poll low after Sunak calls snap election
The Tories have hit their lowest vote share yet in a weekly tracker poll after voters apparently turned away from the party after Rishi Sunak called a snap election.
According to Techne UK, the Tories are now stuck on 19 per cent, the first time the company’s weekly tracker has had them below 20 points. It puts them 26 points behind Labour.
Techne’s chief executive has warned of “a bleak result” for the Conservatives unless they can change the narrative in the next six weeks:
Tories hit new poll low after Sunak called snap election
Pollster predicts Tories are on course to get less than 100 seats unless Sunak can turn party fortunes around
Jane Dalton23 May 2024 19:21 1716498008Comment: So, after 14 years, what have the Conservatives ever really done for us?
So farewell then, the Conservative government of 2010 to 2024 – and, with its likely demise only about 40 days away, this seems as good a moment as any to attempt an obituary, writes Sean O’Grady.
What have the Conservatives ever really done for us?
Tory rule has been characterised by the exactly the sort of chaos the party warned its opponents would cause, writes Sean O’Grady
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 22:00 1716496208In focus | Rishi isn’t alone: Why British men can never look cool in the rain
The PM’s election announcement was a washout thanks to his sodden appearance at the podium outside No 10, but not even a brolly could have saved him. Simon Mills asks what’s a man to do?
Rishi isn’t alone: Why British men can never look cool in the rain
The PM’s election announcement was a washout thanks to his sodden appearance at the podium outside No 10, but not even a brolly could have saved him. Simon Mills asks what’s a man to do?
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 21:30 1716494408‘Economy is going gangbusters’ claims Sunak
Rishi Sunak said the economy is going “gangbusters” in his first major election interview today.
He gave his upbeat verdict after being challenged over his claim that the British economy is now growing faster than the US.
Mr Sunak told BBC Radio Four: “You had the person from the ONS talking about economic growth in the first quarter of the year. He used the word gangbusters - I will leave it at that.”
The comment the prime minister was referring to was made by ONS Chief Economist Grant Fitzner who said: “You could say the economy is going gangbusters.”
Mr Sunak had been questioned by BBC ‘Today’ host Nick Robinson who said that Britain’s economic growth “compared miserably’ to that of America in recent years.
Exclusive: MPs brand Sunak’s decision ‘the kamikaze election’
Tory MPs last night in Parliament were still stunned by Rishi Sunak’s shock decision to call a general election, David Maddox reports.
A number branded it the “the kamikaze election” in what they see as a desperate move by the prime minister.
One former minister told The Independent: “This really is the kamikaze election. We are not sure who will come out of this with their seats.”
Others complained that the party is not ready with several MPs still not in seats because of boundary changes and around 150 seats still with no Tory candidate yet.One MP described it as “a total mess”.
Among those with an uncertain future is chairman Richard Holden, who will be responsible for coordinating the campaign but is one of the MPs looking for a new seat.
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 20:30 1716490808Key dates in countdown to election
May 24: Parliament prorogued which means the end of the Parliamentary session, bringing most business to an end.
May 30: Parliament dissolved. By law, this has to take place no later than 25 working days before polling day, which, in this instance, is May 30.
The days between now and end of the the Parliament will be used to complete any urgent business in the Commons and the Lords, though it also means certain pieces of legislation currently going through parliament - such as the Tobacco & Vapes Bill and the Football Governance Bill - will probably be lost or else scaled back.
June 7: Deadline for candidates to be nominated. It is highly likely that candidates for some of the 650 constituencies across the UK have yet to be picked. Political parties will be rushing to find people to fill these gaps.
June 18: Deadline to register to vote. This can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.
June 19: Deadline to apply for a postal vote.
June 26: Deadline to apply for a proxy vote - in other words, for someone to vote on your behalf - and to apply for a Voter ID certificate, if you do not already have a valid form of photo identification.
This will be the first UK general election where all voters will have to show a valid form of photo ID before casting a ballot.
July 4: Election day. Polls will open from 7am to 10pm.
July 9: The new Parliament will be summoned to meet
July 17: State opening of Parliament.
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 20:00 1716489948
Watch: Sunak refuses to promise legislation on infected blood compensation
Commons deputy speaker stands down
Tory MP Eleanor Laing has officially handed her resignation ahead of the general election.
She joins hundreds of MPs that won’t defend their constituencies on July 4.
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 19:30 1716487653Matt Hancock and Bob Stewart restored to Conservatives
Matt Hancock and Bob Stewart have had the Tory whip returned today as a goodwill gesture by the party, Senior Political Correspondent Daily Express Andrew Calgie has reported.
Matt Hancock had been suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party after signing up to enter the jungle for I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
The former health secretary has agreed to join the programme as early as this weekend, after he was snubbed by Rishi Sunak when the new prime minister put together his new government.
In full: Sunak hopes record number of TV debates saves Tories from election wipeout as channels battle Euro 2024 clash
Rishi Sunak hopes record number of TV debates saves Tories from election wipeout
Broadcasters face wrestle with football fixtures as fans gear up for the start of the Euros
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 19:00 Newer1 / 10OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
