The Tories trail Labour on EVERY major political issue including defence, tax, ... trends now
The Tories trail Labour on every major political issue, a landmark poll has found.
Sir Keir Starmer's party enjoys a commanding lead over the Conservatives on the issues of most concern to voters, including a 35-point advantage on the NHS.
And in a major wake-up call for Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives also lag behind Labour in a string of traditional Tory policy areas, including defence, tax, immigration – and even Brexit.
The survey of more than 5,400 voters was conducted by former Tory treasurer Lord Ashcroft.
It reveals that 45 per cent of the public do not want a Labour government, but its findings will pile pressure on Mr Sunak to demonstrate to Tory MPs that he can find a way to avoid an electoral wipeout.
On the cost of living, Labour leads by a margin of 41:19, while the margin on the economy and jobs is 37:23
On the NHS and social care, 49 per cent say Labour would do a better job, compared with just 14 per cent for the Conservatives
On immigration, which was named by Tory voters as the most important issue, Labour leads by a margin of 34:20
The results suggest that most voters believe the Conservatives have lost their way – and that Sir Keir is on course for a thumping victory.
Just 13 per cent of people believe the Conservative Party's values are closest to those of the public and just 11 per cent think the Tories will win the election.
The survey gives Labour an overall lead of 21 points. It puts support for Sir Keir's party on 44 per cent, the Conservatives on 23, Reform UK in third place on 11, the Green Party on 8 and the Liberal Democrats on just 6.
If repeated at this year's general election, it would produce a landslide Labour majority of historic proportions.
Lord Ashcroft said the findings highlighted the dilemma facing the PM about whether to hold out for an autumn election as planned or gamble on a summer poll.
'We can surely understand why a beleaguered PM would want to put off calling an election for as long as possible in the hope that something might turn up,' he said. 'But what if things just keep getting worse?'
Some 34 per cent of respondents said Sir Keir would make the best prime minister, compared with just 19 per cent who backed Mr Sunak. In a finding that will be noted by leadership rivals, just 40 per cent of those who voted Conservative in 2019 think Mr Sunak would make the best PM.
But in a sign that Sir Keir still has work to do, 48 per cent said they did not know which man would do the best job of leading the country. There are also concerns about how Sir Keir will fare on the world stage, with just 5 per cent of voters saying a combination of him and Donald Trump would be the best outcome for Britain.
On the economy, which Mr Sunak has made his central pitch to voters, Sir Keir and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves are identified by 35 per cent of voters as likely to do a 'better job', compared with 23 per cent who back Mr Sunak and Jeremy Hunt.
Sir Keir Starmer 's party enjoys a commanding lead over the Conservatives on the issues of most concern to voters
