Conservative party members are more dissatisfied than ever with Rishi Sunak, according to a survey from the ConservativeHome website.
In this month’s ranking of cabinet ministers, the prime minister recorded a net satisfaction rating of -27.7.
The only individual to fall below Sunak is illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson — who combines a low public profile with one of the most difficult briefs in government.
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-27.7 is the PM’s worst rating since seizing the reins of No 10 Downing Street. Sunak’s previous worst score on this measure was in December 2023, when he was on -26.5. Last month, Sunak had recovered to -23.1.
In total, a record 12 cabinet ministers were in negative ratings.
Other high profile Conservatives to record negative ratings were deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden (-12.0), foreign secretary Lord Cameron (-7.8) and chancellor Jeremy Hunt (-22.7 and third last).
James Cleverly, who has been grappling with the Rwanda deportation policy since he was moved to the Home Office last autumn, recorded a net satisfaction rating of -3.1.
Kemi Badenoch is the most popular cabinet minister among Conservative Party members, according to the survey.
The business and trade secretary tops the cabinet league table with a net satisfaction rating of +56.2.
Veterans minister Johnny Mercer is second on +42.8, and Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the House of Commons, third on +42.0.
Should the Conservatives lose the general election, party members will play the key role in selecting the next leader.
Both Kemi Badenoch and Penny Mordaunt have been heavily tipped for a future leadership bid, having stood in the leadership race to succeed Boris Johnson in 2022. However, they were ultimately eliminated in a ballot of MPs before they could go before the membership.
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