Poll shows Tories plunging to lowest support since 1978 amid backlash at Budget ... trends now

A shock poll showed Tory support plunging to a 46-year low today amid signs Jeremy Hunt will fund a 2p cut to national insurance with hikes to other taxes in the Budget.

The unwanted landmark was hit in Ipsos research as the Chancellor and Rishi Sunak race to finalise the crucial pre-election fiscal package, due to be unveiled on Wednesday.

Mr Hunt looks set to try to appease demands to ease the burden on Brits by knocking 2p off national insurance. 

But the OBR watchdog's grim outlook on the finances means the cost of around £10billion will need to be at least partly offset by increases elsewhere.  

Curbing tax breaks for wealthy non-doms – those who declare their main home is abroad for tax purposes - appears to be on the table, despite Mr Hunt having criticised similar Labour plans. 

Another £500million will be raised by imposing a levy on vapes and pumping up tobacco duties.

Higher air passenger duty on business flights, extending the windfall tax on oil and gas firms, and a raid on second home owners who let their properties are also being mooted.

Trimming planned public-sector growth after the election could free up a further £5billion.

However, Conservative MPs are already voicing alarm at the prospect of a largely cost-neutral Budget, with just months to go before an election and the tax burden heading for a post-war record.

And the latest Ipsos poll for the Standard found that the Tories were on 20 per cent support - down from 26 per cent last month, and lower than at any point since 1978.

Previous dark moments for the party include 22 per cent under John Major in May 1995, 23 per cent in July 1997 soon after Tony Blair came to power, and 23 per cent in December 2022 after the Liz Truss meltdown. 

Ministers are scrambling for cash after the OBR ruled last week that Mr Hunt's original tax-cutting plans were 'unaffordable' unless more money was found to pay for them.