Sleaze-hit Boris Johnson loses opinion poll lead

Nicholas Cecil, Political Editor for the Evening Standard writes the PM’s “good Prime Minister” rating has dropped to its lowest level since he entered No 10 – as ! a sleaze storm rages at Westminster.” 

An Ipsos MORI survey for the paper says the Tories are on 35 per cent – down four points on September. Labour remains unchanged on 36 per cent, the Green party is up to 11 per cent and the Lib Dems remain unchanged on 9 per cent. 

The results from the poll suggest for the first time since becoming PM the majority of adults in Britain do not believe Boris Johnson has what it takes to be a good prime minister. 

The paper calls the findings “grim” but notes Labour have not had any dramatic breakthrough in winning over voters. 

The poll was largely conducted before the Owen Paterson sleaze scandal exploded at Westminster.

An emergency anti-sleaze debate was held after the government looked to tear up the disciplinary system and block a 30-day suspension for Paterson for breaching lobbying rules. 

It came amid a string of other controversies – the PM’s free holiday, funding for his Downing Street flat, and the Tory peerage scandal. 

The poll also showed unease over the government’s handling of the pandemic and perhaps a positive swaying by the COP26 summit as the Green Party recorded its best results on record. 

Boris Johnson approval rating and other key findings 

• Fifty-five per cent of adults disagree that Mr Johnson has what it take to be a good Prime Minister, with 34 per cent saying he does, giving him a net score of -21. This is a sharp drop from +2 in June, and the lowest score since June 2019, a month before he walked into No10.
• Forty-one per cent do not believe Sir Keir has what it takes to be a good Prime Minister, with 25 per cent thinking he does, a net score of -16, up from -24 in June.
• Sixty-one per cent of people say they are dissatisfied with Mr Johnson, and 34 per satisfied, giving a net score of -27, a big drop from -12 in September. It also equals his lowest satisfaction rating as PM, which was last October.
• The Government as a whole fares even worse, with 62 per cent dissatisfied, and 29 per cent satisfied, a net score of -33, compared to -16 in September, the worst since last October.
• Half of voters are dissatisfied with Sir Keir, with 29 per cent satisfied, a net rating of -21, slightly better than the -25 in September.
• In a sign of divisions within Labour, 42 per cent of its supporters are dissatisfied with Sir Keir, and the same proportion satisfied, a net rating of zero, little better than the minus three in September.
• In contrast, 72 per cent of Tory supporters are satisified with Mr Johnson, and 22 per cent dissatisfied, a net score of +50, down from +56 in September.
• Forty-three per cent say “don’t know” when asked how satisfied they are about Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, with 37 per cent dissatisfied, 20 per cent satisfied, a net score of -17, compared to -14 in September.
• Nearly half of adults (48 per cent) say the Government is handling the Covid-19 pandemic badly, up 12 points on September, and 36 say it is doing well, down eight points, the worst score since the end of last year.

The Tories are facing a series of challenges ahead. Despite the UK having significantly higher Covid cases and deaths than a lot of other European countries, ministers are reluctant to reimpose restrictions. 

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI, said: “The pandemic is far from over with high levels of infections, while we are also seeing worries about the economy, the NHS, the knock-on effects of Brexit, and other issues, all leading to rising concerns about the direction of the country – even before any long-term impact of the standards row last week.

“Climate change is also in the news and in the public’s priorities, which may help to explain the notably good figure for the Greens.

“So the Conservatives are no longer in as strong position as they were over the summer – although the public are still not convinced by Labour as an alternative.”

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major has suggested the Johnson administration has engaged in “politically corrupt” activities.

Read the full story, Sleaze-hit Boris Johnson loses opinion poll lead by Nicholas Cecil on Evening Standard.