The Conservative Party faces another setback as the most recent YouGov polls reveal an expanding gap between Labour and the ruling party. Data collected from over 2,000 respondents between January 2 and January 3 paints a challenging picture for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose popularity continues to decline.
According to the polls, only 22% of respondents would support the Tories, indicating a two-percentage-point decrease compared to a poll conducted at the end of 2023. Conversely, Labour has experienced a surge in support, reaching an impressive 46% in the same poll—a three-percentage-point increase in just two weeks.
The Liberal Democrats maintain a stable position with 10% support, while Reform UK faces a drop from 11% to 9%. The Green Party also experiences a slight setback, decreasing one percentage point to 7%, and the SNP remains stable at 3%.
For Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, this news compounds an already challenging start to 2024. Having failed to fulfill four out of his five pledges for 2023, Sunak’s credibility took another hit when he suggested that a general election might not happen until October, contrary to earlier expectations.
Criticism against Sunak has been mounting on social media platforms, with users on X (formerly Twitter) accusing him of disseminating misleading claims about his policies and promoting “nonsense” to voters.
The dissatisfaction with Sunak is not limited to party lines; the YouGov poll indicates that the public overwhelmingly favors Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Approximately 30% of voters support the Labour leader, compared to only 18% supporting Sunak.
A separate YouGov poll further reveals a prevailing sentiment of dissatisfaction among the British public. Three-quarters of respondents believe that the UK is in a worse state now compared to when the Conservative Party took office in 2010. Among these, 41% consider the current situation much worse, while 34% believe it is somewhat worse.
In a poignant moment for the Conservative Party, Tory MP Danny Kruger, co-founder of the New Conservatives, issued a stark warning during a private event. Kruger acknowledged the public’s narrative that, over the past 13 years, things have worsened. Despite praising accomplishments such as free schools and Brexit, he emphasized that if the Tories exit office soon, they risk leaving the country “sadder, less united, and less conservative than when we found it.”
The poll results align with Kruger’s cautionary words, reflecting a growing sense of disillusionment among voters. As the political landscape continues to shift, Labour’s increasing lead suggests that the Conservatives face an uphill battle in regaining public trust and steering the country towards a more optimistic future.