Rishi Sunak’s popularity has fallen to nearly as low as Corbyn’s in damning new data.
In data collected by Ipsos, Sunak’s net popularity fell to -28 in November 2023.
In polling from 6-9 December 2019, when Corbyn was leader of the Labour party, his net approval was just 2 points worse than Sunak’s at -30.
At that time, Boris Johnson’s approval was at -14.
WATCH: Sunak defends his approach to the migrant crisis
The polling will be worrying for Tory members and MPs, as the party continues to suffer setbacks as the party moves into December.
Just last night, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick stepped down in a shock resignation for the party.
This came just minutes after the Government presented its new legislation, aimed at addressing the Supreme Courts concerns about the Government’s plan to send migrants to Rwanda.
Last month, the court ruled that the plan was unlawful.
MPs on both the left and right of the party have expressed concerns over the new legislation, with both sides instructing lawyers to analyse the bill.
Around 30 MPs from the New Conservatives and Common Sense Group – including former Home Secretaries Suella Braverman and Priti Patel – attended a meeting hosted by the ERG on Tuesday to discuss the plans.
The so-called ‘Star Chamber’ of lawyers, which scrutinised many of the Brexit deals, is set to look at James Cleverly’s new plan to send flights to Rwanda and provide an answer on whether it will successfully facilitate the scheme. The verdict will be published before next Tuesday, the group said.
One Nation Conservatives have also instructed lawyers.
“And there is no point having a bill with nowhere to send people to.
“But I’m telling you now we have set the bar so high, that it will be vanishingly rare for anyone to meet it.”
He addressed the public from Downing Street in an attempt to defend his new Rwanda legislation.
In his resignation statement, Jenrick said he “cannot continue” in his post given he has “such strong disagreements with the direction of the Government’s policy on immigration”.
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WATCH: Cleverly unveils new plan to send migrants to Rwanda
He continued: “The Government has a responsibility to place our vital national interests above highly contested interpretations of international law.
“In our discussions on the proposed emergency legislation you have moved towards my position, for which I am grateful. Nevertheless, I am unable to take the currently proposed legislation through the Commons as I do not believe it provides us with the best possible chance of success. A Bill of the kind you are proposing is a triumph of hope over experience.
“The stakes for the country are too high for us not to pursue the stronger protections required to end the merry-go-round of legal challenges which risk paralysing the scheme and negating its intended deterrent.”
The 2019 polling surveyed 1,134 British adults between 6-9 December 2019. The 2023 polling surveyed 1,066 British adults between 24-27 November 2023.
