Public support for Theresa May drops to lowest level yet, new poll finds
3 min read
Theresa May’s approval rating has fallen to a record low after Cabinet splits burst into the open following the controversial Chequers agreement.
Just 30% of voters are satisfied with the job she is doing as Prime Minister, a drop of five points since June, according to the Ipsos MORI poll for the Evening Standard.
That compares to 62% who are dissatisfied, up four points, from the previous survey.
It leaves the PM with a net satisfaction score of -32 - the lowest of her premiership so far.
The fall is even more drastic among Conservatives, from 68% satisfaction last month to 55% in July.
The Evening Standard poll comes after the row surrounding the the Prime Minister's Brexit plan led to a string of high profile resignations.
David Davis left the Brexit department alongside junior minister Steve Baker, before Boris Johnson walked out as Foreign Secretary.
Meanwhile, Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, last night rejected the Prime Minister's plans for a future customs deal between London and Brussels.
The Chequers plan is also unpopular among the public, with just 29% saying it would be a good thing for the UK, compared to 47% saying it would be a bad thing – while one in five (19%) don’t know.
A record low number of Brits expect the PM to get a good deal from Brussels, with just 25% in her favour, compared to a whopping 72% lacking confidence.
In more welcome news for Mrs May however, she was backed by 41% to make the right decisions around Brexit – higher than any of her colleagues.
Just 35% trust Boris Johnson, 33% back Philip Hammond while 29% would get behind arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg.
The PM is also more trusted on the issue than Jeremy Corbyn, who is backed by 31%.
And despite her low approval rating as Prime Minister, just 28% would have confidence in the Labour leader, whose backing has also fallen since June from 31%.
The public also said both the main party leaders should stand down before the next election, with 46% agreeing Theresa May should go, compared to 31% who think she should stay.
The statistic is worse for Mr Corbyn however, with 55% calling on him to stand aside, compared to 28% who think he should remain in post - a marked change since last September, when he enjoyed a 43% to 43% split.
Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos MORI, said: "Theresa May has faced a lot of criticism since she launched her Chequers deal, and our poll for the Standard shows this is mirrored among the public, with her ratings continuing their recent decline to another new low (and the fall has been even sharper among her own supporters).
"But despite all that, our trends show her ratings are not unusual for a Prime Minister two years in, and are still better than many of her potential alternatives."
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