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Labour’s lead over the Conservatives has fallen six points in a fortnight, according to a new poll which may offer Rishi Sunak a ray of hope ahead of the general election.
Support for the Conservatives has risen three points to 27 per cent, while the Labor and Reform Parties have fallen back.
It comes at a relatively quiet time in UK politics, with Parliament on its Easter break and Conservative MPs largely taking a break from the visible plotting against the prime minister.
But the Savanta poll results offer only partial respite for Rishi Sunak. Labor is still 15 points ahead and, if the lead is not reduced further, Sir Keir Starmer could still gain a majority of up to 188.
Furthermore, a poll published yesterday suggested that the Conservatives’ lead on Reform was the narrowest it has ever been, at just six points.
Sunak today appeared typically coy about when the election might take place. He has talked about the second half of this year, but his deputy Oliver Dowden suggested at the weekend that January 25 was still on the cards.
Support for the Conservatives has risen three points to 27 per cent, while the Labor and Reform Parties have fallen back.
But the Savanta poll results offer only partial respite for Rishi Sunak. Labor is still 15 points ahead and, if the lead is not reduced further, Sir Keir Starmer could still gain a majority of up to 188.
Speaking to LBC, Mr Sunak said: “I said earlier this year, very clearly, that my working assumption was that we would have an election in the second half of this year.”
Chris Hopkins, director of political research at Savanta, said: ‘It has been a relatively quiet period in Westminster, with the government appearing confident on the main issue of the day, the conflict between Israel and Gaza.
“When the Conservatives are not fighting headlines of scandal and disunity, that will almost certainly help them in the eyes of the electorate.”
‘This is just a survey, which may be an outlier and therefore be taken with caution. A 15-point lead for Labor would simply be the difference between an electoral drubbing and an outright annihilation for the Conservatives.
“That said, these results are likely to cheer Rishi Sunak weeks before the crucial local elections.”
Suella Braverman warned that the Conservatives were “heading for defeat” in the general election and reiterated her demand that Rishi Sunak “change course”.
The latest Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll showed Reform UK had the support of 15% of voters. This compares with Labor on 44%, the Conservatives on 21% and the Liberal Democrats on 10%.
Suella Braverman warned yesterday that the Conservatives are “heading for defeat” in the general election and reiterated her demand that Rishi Sunak “change course.”
The former Home Secretary, sacked by Sunak in November, urged the Prime Minister to “improve the offer” to British voters before they go to the polls.
Ms Braverman called for more tax cuts, a stronger crackdown on migration and new measures on national security, social cohesion and extremism.
He claimed Mr Sunak’s current focus on all of these areas was “insufficient”.
The former Cabinet minister is regularly touted as a possible replacement for Sunak as Conservative leader.
But, speaking to LBC Radio, Ms Braverman ruled out a leadership bid for the moment.