Liz Truss’s Approval Rating Is Already Lower Than Boris Johnson’s, New Polls Show

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss is already less popular than Boris Johnson right before he left office, a new Observer poll reveals.

The prime minister’s net approval rating went from -9 to -37 in a single week, with respondents still reeling from Truss’s mini-budget, and all her attempts to defend them. In comparison, disgraced former prime minister Johnson had a net approval of -28 in his final Opinum poll prior to his departure as Tory leader.

“This is the worst poll result we have shown for a Conservative prime minister since the 2010 general election,” said James Crouch, head of policy and public affairs at Opinium. “Liz Truss has managed to reach the depths of the poor personal ratings of both Theresa May and Boris Johnson at the end of their tenure, within weeks of taking office and within days of her government’s first major action.” 

Truss’s rating, if it’s any consolation, is still slightly better than Johnson’s lowest-ever rating of -42, which was recorded at the peak of the partygate scandal.

The fallout from the mini-budget did not only impact the new PM’s approval rating, but also the Conservative party as a whole. Support for her party plunged to 26%, with Labour approval going up to 46%.

“While the prime minister’s own approval ratings have plummeted, she has also contributed to the Conservative government as a whole losing its political credibility and reputation for economic competence almost overnight. If Liz Truss can turn it around, all of us are waiting with bated breath to see how she can,” Crouch added.

75% of the respondents believe that the government has lost control of the economic situation, while 71% of respondents who voted Conservative in 2019 think that the government has lost control — with as much as 56% saying that the mini-budget was a bad idea.

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Information for this briefing was found via Observer/Opinium, The Guardian, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.