One in five Brits say Sunak will be gone before next General Election  

EMBARGO: Immediate release

• New poll even finds some Conservative voters think Rishi Sunak is not likely to survive to face the public at the ballot box

• Lib Dem Deputy Leader slams Rishi Sunak’s record following the party losing over 1,000 seats in the local elections 

A new poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that over one in five (22%) UK adults say it is likely Rishi Sunak will step down as Conservative Party Leader before the next General Election after his party lost over 1,000 council seats. 

The public was asked following this election drumming if Sunak is more or less likely to be around as Prime Minister at the next election. 

Even a staggering one in six (15%) 2019 Conservative voters say Rishi Sunak is likely to step down before the next general election as a result of his local election loss.  One in four Labour (25%) and Liberal Democrat (27%) voters also say it is likely Rishi Sunak will not be Prime Minister at the next general election. 

The Liberal Democrats have called for a general election, arguing Rishi Sunak has no legitimacy as the third Conservative Prime Minister in under twelve months. The Liberal Democrats gained over 400 council seats last week, ousting Blue Wall Conservative-run Councils in Windsor & Maidenhead, Surrey Heath and Dacorum.

Sitting cabinet ministers in Blue Wall seats are now at risk to the Liberal Democrats, including both Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove in Surrey, where the party made large gains. 

Commenting Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP said: 

“With Conservative voters in open revolt against the Government, it looks like Rishi Sunak’s days in Number 10 are numbered. Rishi Sunak promised stability and integrity, but the endless cycle of scandals continues. He has lurched from scandal to scandal and failed to bring down rising bills. 

“His five pledges are already in tatters and the British public knows the Conservative party is no longer fit to govern. 

"Even Conservative voters know Sunak is weak and at risk of being ousted by mutinous backbenchers in his own party.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors: 

Full data tables

Methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,195 UK adults aged 18+ online between 5th and 9th May 2023. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade.

Question asked: 

Q1. The Conservative Party has lost hundreds of council seats at the local elections held this week. Following this result, which of the following best describes your view?

1. Rishi Sunak is likely to step down as Conservative Party leader before the next General Election

2. Rishi Sunak is unlikely to step down as Conservative Party leader before the next General Election