A recent poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies has revealed that Labour has extended its lead over the Conservatives to 20 points, setting the stage for two crucial by-elections.
The survey showed that Sir Keir Starmer's Labour party enjoys the support of 45 percent of voters, while the Conservatives have the backing of only 20 percent.
This news comes as a significant setback for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, especially with the upcoming by-elections in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth scheduled for next month. Although the Tories secured victory in these constituencies during the 2019 general election, Labour is optimistic about its prospects for overturning sizable majorities in both areas.
In a separate opinion poll, over half of the respondents stated that there were no circumstances under which they would consider voting for the Conservatives in the next general election. The YouGov survey, conducted for the consultancy WPI, revealed that 54 percent of voters would 'definitely' not support the Conservatives, compared to 32 percent who expressed the same sentiment about Labour.
Additionally, Sunak's personal ratings have reached a new low, with a favorability score of minus 41. This marks his lowest favorability rating since taking office in October of the previous year, with only 26 percent of respondents having a positive view of him and 67 percent holding a negative opinion. Although Sunak's score was slightly worse than Boris Johnson's when he left office, it was somewhat better than the Conservative Party's overall rating, which stood at minus 48.
In contrast, Keir Starmer's favorability rating was at minus 20, slightly below the minus 11 recorded for the Labour Party. The Redfield & Wilton survey, conducted on September 10, also revealed that Sunak's approval rating was minus 21 percent, his second-lowest rating as Prime Minister according to the pollster. Only 25 percent of respondents approved of his job performance, while 46 percent disapproved.
The survey also indicated a net competency rating for the government of minus 39 percent, with just 15 percent of voters considering the government competent and 54 percent perceiving it as incompetent. This marks the government's lowest net competency rating since Sunak assumed office.
In terms of the question of who would make the better Prime Minister at this moment, Sir Keir Starmer led Rishi Sunak by 15 points, with 43 percent of respondents favoring Starmer and 28 percent preferring Sunak.
The Redfield & Wilton poll was conducted following the 'crumbly' concrete scandal in schools and the escape of a terror suspect from a London prison.
The Mid Bedfordshire by-election, triggered by the resignation of former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, is scheduled for October 19. Labour aims to overturn the Tories' 25,000-vote majority from the 2019 general election in this constituency.
The Tamworth by-election was prompted by the resignation of Chris Pincher, who failed to appeal an eight-week suspension from Parliament over groping allegations. Pincher previously retained his Tamworth seat with a nearly 20,000-vote majority in 2019. The last time the Staffordshire constituency was held by Labour was in 2005.
Rishi Sunak has acknowledged that the two by-elections will present a 'difficult' challenge for the Conservative Party. Photo by Rwendland, Wikimedia commons.