A new poll has seen the Tories sink to their lowest level of support since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister in October 2022.
The survey, by Redfield Wilton, sees the Tories fall to just 22 percent, just one point higher than Mr Sunak inherited when taking over from Liz Truss.
In another boost for the Reform Party, Richard Tice’s right-wing rebellion is now polling over half the Tories’ support, on 12 percent, their joint highest poll rating ever.
Labour’s lead has grown by four points since January 14, largely thanks to the Conservatives dropping by three percentage points during the period.
The boost for Reform UK comes one day after their candidate in a crunch by-election warned it should be used as a “referendum on Rishi Sunak”.
According to Redfield Wilton, 18 percent of 2019 Tory voters will now back Reform UK, a record high seen by the polling firm.
Ben Habib, the party’s deputy leader who is running for Reform UK in Wellingborough, told the Express: “If the Conservatives cannot defend a seat where they won more than 32,000 votes in 2019 and held a majority of more than 18,000 then Sunak does not deserve to stay in Downing Street”.
“Voters in Wellingborough can send a message to the Government and the Conservative Party that change is needed.”
The Lib Dems are once again in fourth place on 11 percent, behind Reform UK, followed by the Greens (6 percent), SNP (2 percent) and other (2 percent).
Only 47 percent of 2019 Tory voters say they would vote for the party again this year, just one point more than the lowest recorded under Rishi Sunak on the first day he became Prime Minister.
One in five 2019 Tory voters told the polling firm they would vote for Labour if an election were held tomorrow.
The economy and healthcare remain the most important issues to voters, around 20 points ahead of immigration, and 30 ahead of education and taxation.
Mr Sunak’s own personal rating is down to -21 percent, a whole six percent down in a single week.
The 48 percent who say they disapprove of Mr Sunak’s performance is the highest disapproval rating he’s ever received, as both PM and Chancellor.
Sir Keir Starker remained strong at +11 percent, with Jeremy Hunt on -8.
Over the weekend it was reported that multiple Tory MPs are in talks with Mr Tice over potential defections to his party.
Speaking at his new year launch event a fortnight ago, he encouraged the likes of Lee Anderson to jump ship, and warned any Tories who stayed put would face a tough election battle from Reform, with his party set to take around 10 percent of the vote.
Mr Tice said there would be no election pacts this year to help Mr Sunak, warning all Tory MPs: “You’ve all broken Britain; you’re all responsible”
“So there are no special deals. We stand in every single seat in England, Scotland and Wales”.
