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RISHI’S A SNAKE, LIZ A LIONESS!

...that’s what voters say in research for Tory grandee – and she’d outdo him in an election

By Claire Ellicott ACTING DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

LIZ TRUSS would fare better than Rishi Sunak in a General Election, according to an exclusive poll seen by The Mail on Sunday.

Voters were marginally more likely to back the Foreign Secretary over the ex-Chancellor in the survey by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft.

However, the results will provide food for thought for the warring Conservative Party, as they showed Labour would beat both candidates by a significant margin.

Asked for their verdict on Mr Johnson, an overwhelming number of those who backed him in 2019 said he had done a good job as Prime Minister (84 per cent).

But following Partygate and several mishandled crises, two-thirds (67 per cent) also said they disapproved of his character and personal conduct.

‘Conservative supporters see Mr Sunak as rich and out of touch’

In other findings, voters who backed Mr Johnson in 2019, but were undecided regarding the next election, compared Mr Sunak to a snake and Ms Truss to a lioness or a ‘loyal’ labrador.

The poll of 10,000 people reveals that while voters marginally favour the frontrunner Ms Truss over Mr Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer would beat them both.

In an indication that Ms Truss is seen as Mr Johnson’s natural successor, 38 per cent of those who voted for him in 2019 said she would make the better Prime Minister, versus 29 per cent for Mr Sunak. However, one in three were undecided, indicating the result of the contest is still to play for.

More voters in general thought Mr Sunak would make a better Prime Minister (29 per cent) than Ms Truss at 23 per cent. The Conservative vote nevertheless narrowly fell to Ms Truss when survey participants were forced to choose between a government led by Sir Keir versus one led by either Ms Truss or Mr Sunak.

All voters agreed that Tory members – who decide between the two – would pick the Foreign Secretary as the next Prime Minister.

Those who voted for Mr Johnson in 2019 also said they would prefer his successor to be someone who stayed loyal rather than someone who resigned. Most voters, however, thought that the next Prime Minister should be someone who had quit Mr Johnson’s Cabinet. Mr Sunak left the Cabinet during the exodus of Ministers that prompted Mr Johnson to offer his resignation last month, while Ms Truss remains in post.

Asked for their opinions on the candidates, voters in general said Ms Truss was more honest, had more integrity and was more down to earth than her rival.

Mr Sunak was seen as a strong, competent leader.

However, at least half of all voters said there was little to choose between the pair.

Among 2019 Conservative voters, Ms Truss beats her competitor on almost every positive attribute by a sizeable margin.

There was a clear Brexit divide, with Remainers more likely to think Mr Sunak would make a better PM (40 per cent) than Ms Truss (13 per cent).

Leavers backed Ms Truss (35 per cent) – who voted Remain but has changed her mind – to Mr Sunak (23 per cent) who voted Leave.

However, floating voters who backed the Tories in 2019 said they would rather a PM who would stand up to the EU than one who aimed for a closer relationship.

Asked to rate notable political figures and parties, voters chose Defence Secretary Ben Wallace above everyone else – including the Tory party itself and Mr Johnson.

Mr Wallace was urged to run for the Tory leadership after topping successive ConservativeHome polls of the most popular Cabinet minister following his strong stance on Ukraine, but ruled himself out and backed Ms Truss.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner is also revealed to be more popular among Labour voters than her boss, the poll reveals.

Sir Keir Starmer’s approval rating of 0.7 among those who backed the party in 2019 lags behind Ms Rayner’s at 1.2.

When Tory voters were asked for the first words that came to mind about the two candidates, their top answers were ‘rich’ and ‘out of touch’ for Mr Sunak and ‘unsure and trustworthy’ for Ms Truss. Tory backers and voters overall said they would prefer a PM who offers change rather than continuity and prioritises inflation over

tax cuts. Both groups also said they would choose a leader who is dull but sensible rather than charismatic but unpredictable, and would prefer one who says what they think rather than being diplomatic.

Those who voted for Mr Johnson in 2019 – but do not know who to pick at the next election – backed Ms Truss’s plans, saying that the next PM should temporarily cut green levies on energy bills. The wealthiest voters said Mr Sunak would make a better Prime Minister by 35 per cent to 22 per cent. Less wealthy voters backed Ms Truss by 25 per cent to 22 per cent.

Lord Ashcroft polled 10,454 people between July 25 and August 2. Focus groups of voters who backed the Tories in 2019 but were undecided who to back at the next election were conducted between July 26 and August 4.

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2022-08-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

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