Is the Sunak surge ALREADY fading? Poll finds Labour lead stretching to 21 points over Tories after brief rally in support amid concern about the economy and rows over Channel migrants and Gavin Williamson ‘bullying’
- Labour extended its lead over the Conservatives from 17 to 21 points in new poll
- In addition, Mr Sunak’s personal net approval rating fell five points to 8%
- Economy, NHS and immigration control three main issues public will vote on
Rishi Sunak’s brief honeymoon with voters appears to be over already as the Tories slump further behind Labour.
Sir Keir Starmer’s party extended its lead over the Conservatives from 17 to 21 points in a new poll amid a wave of crisis hitting the new PM’s nascent government.
In addition, Mr Sunak’s personal net approval rating fell five points to eight per cent – though Sir Keir’s also fell by the same margin to 13 per cent.
The findings by Redfield and Wilton Strategies show the economy is the most pressing issue facing UK voters, less than a fortnight before the Chancellor presents what is expected to be a painful Autumn Statement.
Jeremy Hunt is expected to bring in a swathe of tax rises and spending cuts to fill a £60billion black hole.
Some 68 per cent of those polled said the the economy was one of the three most important issues that would determine how they would vote in a General Election.
But in an ominous sign for the Government, two other areas where they are struggling were also high on the list, healthcare (57 per cent) and immigration (30 per cent.
The state of the NHS and the influx of thousands of migrants across the Channel in small boats are major issues for the government at the moment.
Sir Keir Starmer’s party extended its lead over the Conservatives from 17 to 21 points in a new poll amid a wave of crisis hitting the new PM’s nascent government.
Some 68 per cent of those polled said the the economy was one of the three most important issues that would determine how they would vote in a General Election. But in an ominous sign for the Government, two other areas where they are struggling were also high on the list, healthcare (57 per cent) and immigration (30 per cent.
In addition, Mr Sunak’s personal net approval rating fell five points to eight per cent – though Sir Keir’s also fell by the same margin to 13 per cent.
The state pension and benefits could both rise in line with inflation despite the desperate scramble to fill the £60billion hole in the government’s finances.
Details sent to the Treasury watchdog ahead of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement are said to factor in increases to match prices.
The move could cost £11billion a year and necessitate even deeper cuts to unprotected departments – but would avoid the Tories breaking more manifesto promises.
It is also expected to be offset by a huge ‘stealth’ raid on taxes, with thresholds frozen to drag millions of people deeper into the system.
In the latest signal, there is speculation the level at which inheritance tax becomes due will be held to raise around half a billion pounds a year.
A senior Government source confirmed that the moves are being considered for the fiscal package on November 17 but stressed no final decisions have been taken.
The government’s books are looking increasingly unsteady after the Bank of England’s grim prediction last week of a long-lasting recession.
British immigration officers will be deployed to tackle the Channel crisis in French territory for the first time as part of a landmark deal, the Mail reveals today.
The crucial agreement will allow UK Border Force officers into French nerve centres to help combat small boat departures across the Channel.
The deal will also see the largest-ever sum handed by the UK taxpayer to France – thought to be around £80million – for escalated anti-dinghy patrols.
Mr Sunak indicated yesterday that an agreement was imminent after his first meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron.
Mr Sunak said he had ‘renewed confidence and optimism’ that deals could be struck with Paris and other European partners to combat illegal immigration.
But critics warned last night that any new deal would have to deliver results, after years of broken promises.
Mr Sunak is gathering his Cabinet today as he faces a fresh crisis over Gavin Williamson with claims the minister told a senior civil servant to ‘slit your throat’ and ‘jump out of a window’.
Mr Sunak is gathering his Cabinet today as he faces a fresh crisis over Gavin Williamson with claims the minister told a senior civil servant to ‘slit your throat’ and ‘jump out of a window’.
The PM will meet his senior team in Downing Street after a Ministry of Defence official alleged that Sir Gavin ‘deliberately demeaned and intimidated’ them when he was defence secretary between 2017 and 2019.
The ‘slit your throat’ comment was made in front of other shocked civil servants during a meeting, the official told The Guardian. The ‘jump out of a window’ remark was made on a separate occasion, they alleged.
The official, who later left government, said they reported the behaviour to the MoD’s head of human resources, but did not make a formal complaint.
The MoD official claimed Sir Gavin ‘shouted and raged’, and a senior military official from the department later apologised for not calling out the now Cabinet Officer minister.
Sir Gavin denied bullying the official but did not appear to deny using the specific words. He is already facing an investigation by CCHQ into allegations he sent expletive-laden texts to then-chief whip Wendy Morton about attending the Queen’s funeral.
In a round of interviews this morning, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said it would be ‘utterly, utterly unacceptable’ if Sir Gavin Williamson told a senior civil servant to ‘slit your throat’ and ‘jump out of the window’.
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