Nearly half of Tories want Election this year to sweep Rishi Sunak out of No10

04 February 2023 , 18:48

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Some 52% of voters want an election in the next six weeks (Image: PA)

Nearly half of those who voted Tory in 2019 now want a General Election this year which would sweep Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives from power.

A sensational Sunday Mirror poll today shows that 48% who declared themselves Conservative voters last time either strongly support or support going to the ballot box in 2023 That rises to 61% of all voters.

And four in ten onetime Tories say the sooner the better joining 52% of voters overall who favour an election in the next six weeks.

An exclusive Redfield and Wilton Strategies survey shows that four in ten voters would prefer to see Keir Starmer as PM with fewer than a third opting for Mr Sunak.

Only 27% would like to see Boris Johnson make a comeback and replace Mr Sunak.

Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade

As other polls consistently show the Tories lagging more than 20 points behind Labour Sir Keir would be a shoe-in for No10 if a vote was held now.

Just 27% of voters said they wanted to see Boris Johnson make a comeback (James Veysey/TalkTV/REX/Shutterstock)

And shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves is four points ahead of the Treasury’s Jeremy Hunt when it comes to who voters want to see run the economy.

Nearly half of those questioned say Mr Sunak has failed to uphold his pledge of “integrity, professionalism and accountability” following his sacking of Tory chairman Nadhim Zahawi last week. And that included more than one in three Tories.

But six in ten approve of the PM’s plan to introduce minimum service levels to thwart strikes although 47% say workers who refuse to cross picket lines to keep services running should not be sacked. Only 29% reckon they should.

When it comes to funding the NHS four in ten oppose tax rises while more than three in five would be against those who can afford it paying £9.35 to see a GP - the cost of a prescription.

But the nation is divided over whether Prince Harry and Meghan should be invited to the King’s coronation in May with 44% saying they should come and 41% they should be excluded.

• Redfield and Wilton Strategies questioned 1,500 voters online on 1st February

Nigel Nelson