Rishi Sunak handed election boost as poll shows Tories closing gap on Labour

Rishi Sunak handed election boost as poll shows Tories closing gap on Labour

Rishi Sunak has received a boost ahead of next week’s local elections, with a new poll suggesting the Conservative Party is gaining ground on Labour. The survey, conducted by Savanta for the Telegraph, indicates that the Tories have reduced the deficit to 16 points.

Pollster Chris Hopkins said the Prime Minister still needs to pass his Rwanda bill, which he believes could be a “game-changer”. The poll, which was based on online interviews with 2,332 UK adults aged 18 and over between April 19-21, shows Labour unchanged on 43 percent, while the Conservatives have gained two points to 27 percent.

Reform UK is on 10 percent (-1), the Liberal Democrats are on nine percent (-1), the Greens are on four percent (unchanged), the SNP is on two percent (down one), and others are on four (unchanged) compared to Savanta’s previous poll, which was based on interviews conducted between April 12-14.

Despite the positive news for the Conservatives, Sunak’s personal approval ratings remain low. He is seen as the best option for Prime Minister by just 30 percent of respondents, down two points, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is up two points on 41 percent. Thirty percent of respondents were undecided.

Starmer’s net favourability rating is -1, down three points, while Sunak’s is -24, down seven points compared to the last survey.

Sunak has not ruled out a July general election, with former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage suggesting a summer poll is possible. The Prime Minister, who was in Poland on Tuesday to announce a military aid package for Ukraine, repeated his intention to call a vote in the second half of the year.

A poor set of local election results next week could force Sunak’s hand, either by leading to a challenge to his leadership or by persuading him that an earlier polling day could be a better solution than limping on with a divided party.