Rishi Sunak's economic credibility SHATTERED as damning new findings point to electoral annihilation

Electoral struggles could lay ahead for Rishi Sunak
Electoral struggles could lay ahead for Rishi Sunak
House of Commons
Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 26/01/2023

- 14:10

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:20

A new poll makes for optimistic reading for Labour leader Keir Starmer

Electoral annihilation could be on the cards for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after a new poll found voters have more faith in Keir Starmer and Labour than the Tories to turn around the economy.

The People Polling survey for GB News asked voters who will be best to manage Britain’s economy in the years ahead.


Only 16 per cent of the 1,168 voters polled on January 24 said a Conservative government with Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister. In comparison 32 per cent say a Labour government with Keir Starmer in Number 10.

This represents an improvement for the Labour leader. On November 18 last year, People Polling asked the same question and 30 per cent said a Labour government with Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

Seventeen per cent said a Conservative government with Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister would be best to manage the British economy in the years ahead.

Politics professor Matt Goodwin said: “One very big problem for the Conservatives is they have now lost ownership of the economy, traditionally their ace card in Britishpolitics.

“Far more voters back Labour over the Conservatives on the economy, while Labour’s lead has even inched upwards.

The poll makes for positive reading for Sir Keir Starmer
The poll makes for positive reading for Sir Keir Starmer
House of Commons

“While it is true that a large majority of voters remain disillusioned with both parties, there is also no doubt at all that Keir Starmer is effectively addressing one of his party’s big areas of weakness after its disastrous experiment with Jeremy Corbyn - its loss of competence on the economy.

“If Labour remains ahead of the Conservatives on the economy, which remains the most pressing issue for voters, then it really will be game over for the Conservatives at the next election.”

Rishi Sunak suffered a further blow in the polling as half of voters now say they will vote for Labour at the next general election.

The poll found Labour currently sits on 50 per cent of the national vote, up five per cent on last week - while the Conservative Party is at 21 per cent which is no change on a week ago.

The Liberal Democrats suffered a one per cent drop, and now sit at eight per cent, while the Greens and Reform sit on five per cent and seven per cent respectively.

The Government’s pledge to level up Britain’s left behind regions has also been met with cynicism by voters.

A large majority, 60 per cent of voters, say they are not confident at all, while just one per cent say they are “completely confident”.

Forty-seven per cent of Tory voters say they are not confident at all the government will “level up” regions left behind by the time of the next election.

Labour voters are more cynical with a large majority (79 per cent) giving the same response.

Goodwin added: “Levelling-up was one of the signature policies of the Conservative government but these results show that a large majority of people simply have no confidence at all that the government will deliver on this pledge.

“Against the backdrop of the recent dispute over some southern areas appearing to receive more funding than their northern counterparts, this suggests prime minister Sunak and his party have a very long way to go to convince voters they are genuinely levelling-up Britain”.


You may like