Rishi Sunak’s ratings slip to a new low of minus 41 – worse than Boris Johnson when he quit No10 – as he faces two more by-elections

Rishi Sunak’s personal ratings have slipped to a new low of minus 41, according to grim polling released today.

YouGov research showed that Mr Sunak’s favourability score is at its lowest since he became PM, with 26 per cent having a positive view and 67 per cent negative.

Worryingly for Mr Sunak as two more by-elections loom, that 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.

In contrast Keir Starmer’s favourability stood at minus 20, below the minus 11 recorded for Labour.

The results of the poll – conducted at the end of August – emerged as the contest was triggered to replace former Tory whip Chris Pincher, who resigned as an MP after losing his appeal against a suspension for drunkenly groping two men.

YouGov research showed that Rishi Sunak’s favourability score is at its lowest since he became PM, with 26 per cent having a positive view and 67 per cent negative

Government chief whip Simon Hart asked for the writ to trigger the by-election for Tamworth in Staffordshire to be moved.

It has to take place between 21 and 27 working days from the issuing of the writ, suggesting the date will be October 19 – the same day as the contest for former culture secretary Nadine Dorries’ Mid Bedfordshire seat.

Mr Pincher has comfortably won Tamworth for the Conservatives since 2010, with a majority of 19,634 votes at the last general election.

However, Mr Sunak has warned ‘mid-term by-elections are always difficult’ for the Government.

Mr Pincher had sought to reduce a potentially by-election triggering eight-week suspension recommended by the Commons Standards Committee for what was found to be an ‘egregious case of sexual misconduct’ at London’s exclusive Carlton Club last year.

But Parliament’s Independent Expert Panel (IEP) dismissed his appeal last week.

Addressing his decision to resign, Mr Pincher said he had already decided not to stand at the next general election and wanted to avoid ‘further uncertainty’ for his constituents.

The Tories’ fight to retain the seat has been complicated because due to boundary changes the party had intended the candidate to be Eddie Hughes, the current Tory MP for Walsall North.

Mr Hughes ruled out contesting the by-election, saying he has a ‘commitment to my constituents until the next general election’.

Worryingly for Mr Sunak as two more by-elections loom, that was marginally worse than the figure for Boris Johnson as he left power

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