Rishi Sunak's popularity among Tories nosedives amid Zahawi tax row

Rishi Sunak’s popularity nosedives among Tory members amid Zahawi tax row and economic problems – and voters now see Keir Starmer as a more ‘capable’ choice of prime minister ahead of next election

• Satisfaction with PM among Tory grassroots has fallen by three quarters
• Only positive was fall in backing for Mr Zahawi, who dropped almost 60 points
• Starmer leapfrogged Sunak in Ipsos poll as most capable prime minister 

Rishi Sunak is hemorrhaging support among Tory supporters and voters at large as problems continue to blight his government, new polls suggested today. 

Backing for the Prime Minister among Conservative grassroots has fallen by three quarters in the wake of Nadhim Zahawi’s tax revelations. 

Satisfaction with the PM in Conservative Home’s monthly Cabinet league table fell from 13.1 per cent to just 2.9 per cent.

The only positive on show for Mr Sunak was the fall in backing for Mr Zahawi himself.  

In a poll conducted last Friday, before he was fired, the former party chairman had a net satisfaction rating of -48 per cent, a fall of almost 60 points in a month that validates Mr Sunak’s decision to sack him.

But in a separate poll by Ipsos Mori today, Mr Sunak slipped behind Labour leader Keir Starmer as the best choice of PM to lead the UK.

Backing for the Prime Minister among Conservative grassroots has fallen by three quarters in the wake of Nadhim Zahawi’s tax revelations.

In a separate poll by Ipsos Mori today, Mr Sunak slipped behind Labour leader Keir Starmer as the best choice of PM to lead the UK.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos, said: ‘Both Rishi Sunak and his party still face significant challenges in the polls. 

‘The public remain sceptical about how effectively the Government can deliver on their main concerns on public services, the economy and cost of living, and now the Prime Minister’s own ratings are also slipping.

‘Combined with much less apprehension about the prospect of a Labour government than in 2019, this is all helping to create a sense among Britons that it is time for a change. 

‘However, there are also areas for Labour to be wary of – Keir Starmer still has more to do to define what he stands for, and while 2019 Conservative voters are hardly happy with the way the Government is running the country, this group still need more convincing that things would be better under Labour.’

Tax row ex-minister Mr Zahawi is threatening to kick-start a damaging protracted public row with Mr Sunak over the manner of his sacking as Conservative Party chairman. 

The multi-millionaire MP was fired early yesterday morning over a seven-figure payment to HMRC he made while chancellor last year.

The Prime Minister dismissed the former vaccines minister for a ‘serious breach of the ministerial code’ less than two hours after receiving a report by ethics chief Sir Laurie Magnus.

Mr Zahawi, who is reported to have paid a £1million fine as part of a £5million settlement with tax authorities, had previously threatened legal action against journalists trying to look into the tax probe. 

Rishi Sunak fired the multi-millionaire MP early yesterday morning over a seven-figure payment to HMRC he made while chancellor last year

Mr Zahawi, who is reported to have paid a £1million fine as part of a £5million settlement with tax authorities, had previously threatened legal action against journalists trying to look into the tax probe. He is pictured with his wife Lana

He is believed to still insist he has done nothing wrong, and was not given enough of a chance to put his case. 

Allies have suggested he may publish his own rebuttal to the conclusions reached by Sir Laurie, who identified seven separate breaches of the ministerial code of conduct.

Mr Sunak today defended the handling of Mr Zahawi’s case. On a visit to a hospital in Darlington he said that due process had been followed.

‘Integrity is really important to me. All of you want to see that government is run properly, that it is run with integrity and there is accountability when people don’t behave in a way that they should or something doesn’t go right, and that is what we have done,’ he added.

Mr Sunak is now hunting for a ‘squeaky clean’ candidate for Tory party chairman, and was last night struggling to find an immediate replacement for the post, which is critical in the run-up to a general election expected next year. 

Former party leader and foreign secretary Lord Hague this morning ruled out taking  the role, while Jacob Rees-Mogg has suggested it be handed to Boris Johnson.

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