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Def Min Most Popular Minister Among CON Base With PM's Position Vulnerable

UK

Centre-right leaning blog Conservative Home has released its latest 'league table' of Cabinet members ranking their popularity among the party base. This month's results have Foreign Secretary Liz Truss knocked off the top spot for the first time in a year, with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace given the highest rating by the party grassroots. His robust stance on supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression appears to have resonated with party members.

  • Satisfaction ratings such of these have taken on increased importance in recent weeks, given the precarious nature of PM Boris Johnson's leadership status. In the event Johnson is ousted by his party in a confidence vote, the leadership race has rounds of voting carried out just among Conservative MPs with the lowest-placed candidate eliminated each round until there are only two candidates remaining.
  • The two final candidates then go to a ballot among party members, making their views on approval or disapproval of individual politicians a crucual determinant of who could emerge as leader.

Chart 1. Net Satisfaction Ratings for the Cabinet (Approve Minus Disapprove)

Source: Conservative Home

  • PM Boris Johnson's net rating remains in negative territory, with only Chief Whip Mark Spencer holding a lower net satisfaction rating. Johnson's net score of -17.3 is better, though, than the December rating which came in at a record-low -34.
  • Chancellor Rishi Sunak's net satisfaction continues to slide, now at 39, his lowest rating as Chancellor. With inflation rising and a National Insurance tax hike coming in from April, Sunak's standing among party members could take a further hit in the months ahead.

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