Sunak Plummets Among Conservative Members Amidst Tax Hike, Inflation Squeeze

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has seen his popularity among grassroot Conservative members plummet according to the latest survey by the ConservativeHome blog.

• Sunak's net popularity stands at +7.9, putting him third from bottom (29th of 32) among all gov't ministers above only party chair Ben Elliot and Home Secretary Priti Patel (the only Cabinet member with a net negative rating).
• This is down from a rating of +38.8, putting Sunak in 11th place one month ago, and +78.7, putting him in second place in April 2021.
• With Prime Minister Boris Johnson still under significant pressure due to the 'partygate' investigations into COVID rule breaking at 10 Downing Street, there remains focus on potential successors. During the pandemic, Sunak's popularity among party members and the general public was high as generous gov't programmes paid out vast sums of cash.
• However, the chancellor is now seeing his popularity slump as UK consumers are hit by a series of major cost of living increases in the form of a National Insurance contribution hike, high fuel prices, a 50% jump in the energy price cap, and rising food price inflation.
• In the event Johnson is forced from office or resigns, popularity with party grassroots is crucial. In any final run-off vote to decide a new party leader, it is party members that have the final say.

Chart 1. Net Satisfaction Ratings of Cabinet Members (and others), Survey of Conservative Party Members

Source: ConservativeHome