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<\/p>\nLabour has extended its lead over the Tories to 20 points ahead of two crunch by-elections, a new poll has shown.<\/p>\n
The latest Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey found Sir Keir Starmer’s party are now backed by 45 per cent of voters, with the Conservatives supported by 20 per cent.<\/p>\n
It represents a fresh blow for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of upcoming by-elections in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth next month.<\/p>\n
The seats were won by the Tories at the 2019 general election, but Labour will fancy their chances of overturning large majorities in both constituencies.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in a separate opinion poll, more than half of voters said there were no circumstances in which they would consider backing the Tories at the next general election.<\/p>\n
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The latest Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey found Sir Keir Starmer’s party are now backed by 45% of voters, with the Conservatives supported by 20%<\/p>\n
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Just 15% of voters found the Government competent, while 54% found the Government incompetent – the Government’s lowest net competency rating since Rishi Sunak became PM<\/p>\n
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Sir Keir (43%) led Mr Sunak (28%) by 15 points when voters were asked who would be the better PM at this moment<\/p>\n
The YouGov survey, for the strategy consultancy WPI, found that 54 per cent of voters would ‘definitely’ not support the Conservatives at the next election.<\/p>\n
This compared with 32 per cent who said the same of Labour.<\/p>\n
Further research by YouGov showed that Mr Sunak’s personal ratings have slipped to a new low of minus 41.<\/p>\n
It found the PM’s favourability score is at its lowest since he took office in October last year, with 26 per cent having a positive view of him and 67 per cent negative.<\/p>\n
Worryingly for Mr Sunak, his score was marginally worse than the figure for Boris Johnson as he left power – although it is slightly better than the minus 48 rating for the Conservative Party more broadly.<\/p>\n
By contrast Keir Starmer’s favourability stood at minus 20, below the minus 11 recorded for Labour.<\/p>\n
In the Redfield & Wilton survey, conducted on 10 September, Mr Sunak’s approval rating was minus 21 per cent, which was his second lowest as PM as recorded by the pollster.<\/p>\n
It found 25 per cent approved of his overall job performance against 46 per cent who disapproved.<\/p>\n
The poll also showed the Government’s net competency rating at minus 39 per cent.<\/p>\n
Just 15 per cent of voters found the Government competent, while 54 per cent found the Government incompetent.<\/p>\n
This was the Government’s lowest net competency rating since Mr Sunak became PM.<\/p>\n
Sir Keir (43 per cent) led Mr Sunak (28 per cent) by 15 points when voters were asked who would be the better PM at this moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Redfield & Wilton poll was conducted in the wake of the ‘crumbly’ concrete scandal in schools, and the escape of a terror suspect from a London prison.<\/p>\n
The Mid Bedfordshire by-election, prompted by the resignation of ex-Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, has already been called for 19 October.<\/p>\n
Labour will be looking to overturn the Tories’ 25,000-vote majority from the 2019 general election in the seat.<\/p>\n
The Tamworth by-election was triggered by the resignation of Chris Pincher after the ex-Tory minister failed with an appeal against an\u00a0eight-week suspension from Parliament over groping allegations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Pincher retained his Tamworth seat with a near 20,000-vote majority in 2019.<\/p>\n
The Staffordshire constituency was last held by Labour in 2005.<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak has admitted the two by-elections will be ‘difficult’ for the Conservatives.<\/p>\n