Redfield & Wilton Strategies’ latest voting intention poll in Great Britain finds the Conservative Party leading by 7%—an increase of 3% from last week’s poll. Altogether, the full numbers (with the changes from last week in parentheses) are as follows:
Conservative 41% (+1)
Labour 34% (-2)
Liberal Democrat 11% (+2)
Green 6% (–)
Scottish National Party 4% (–)
Reform UK 3% (-1)
Plaid Cymru 0% (–)
Other 2% (–)
When those who say they do not know how they would vote in a General Election are included, the Conservatives also lead by 7%. After weighting by likelihood to vote, 12% of the sample said they do not know how they would vote, including 10% of those who voted Conservative in December 2019 and 8% of those who voted Labour.
This week’s sample had 59% of respondents saying they would be ‘certain to vote’ if there were to be a General Election tomorrow. Those who voted Conservative in 2019 (75%) are more likely to say they are ‘certain to vote’ than those who voted for Labour in 2019 (58%).
Healthcare remains the issue respondents consider most likely to determine how they would vote in the next General Election. When asked to select up to three issues which would most determine how they would vote in a General Election, if there were to be one tomorrow, respondents select healthcare (52%), the economy (39%), education (27%), immigration (26%), the environment (24%), and coronavirus restrictions (22%).
If a General Election were to take place in the next six months, 41% of respondents expect the outcome to be a Conservative Party majority, an increase of 3% from last week. 19% expect a Labour Party majority (up 2%), 12% expect a Conservative Party-led minority Government (down 1%), and 5% expect a Labour Party-led minority Government (down 1%). 72% of 2019 Conservative Party voters think the Conservatives would achieve a majority (up 5%), whereas 46% of 2019 Labour voters expect that Labour would win a majority (up 4%).
The Government’s Net Competency Rating stands at -7% in this week’s poll, a 10% increase from last week and a 4% increase from two weeks ago. Altogether, 30% find the Government competent (up 5%), 37% find the Government incompetent (down 5%), and 24% find the Government neither competent nor incompetent (down 1%).
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s net approval rating stands at -2%, an increase of 13% from last week and a decrease of 1% from two weeks ago. This week’s poll finds 41% disapproving (down 6%) of his overall job performance, against 39% approving (up 7%).
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak’s approval rating has improved slightly in the past week, with this week’s poll finding it at +19% (up 3%). 43% say they approve of Rishi Sunak’s job performance (up 2%), while 24% disapprove (down 1%).
Keir Starmer’s net approval rating stands remains at -15%, the same result as last week’s lowest net approval rating to date for Starmer. 40% disapprove of Keir Starmer’s job performance (no change), while 25% approve (no change). Meanwhile, 31% neither approve nor disapprove of Starmer’s job performance (up 2%).
Between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer, 44% say they think Boris Johnson would be a better Prime Minister for the United Kingdom at this moment than Keir Starmer, a figure which is four points greater than last week. Conversely, 28% think Keir Starmer would be the better Prime Minister when compared to Boris Johnson (down 2%).
More specifically, Boris Johnson continues to lead over Keir Starmer as being the one who best embodies the following descriptions: ‘can build a strong economy’ (44% to 28%), ‘stands up for the interests of the United Kingdom’ (43% to 28%), ‘knows how to get things done’ (42% to 27%), and ‘can tackle the coronavirus pandemic’ (42% to 26%).
Keir Starmer continues to lead only when it comes to best embodying the description of ‘being in good physical and mental health’ (36% to 29%).
When asked to assess whether Boris Johnson or Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham would be a better Prime Minister for the UK at this moment, 45% think Boris Johnson would be the better Prime Minister (up 2%), against 23% who think Andy Burnham would be (down 6%).
Further, 37% say Boris Johnson (up 4%) and 30% say Rishi Sunak (down 4%) would be the better Prime Minister for the UK at this moment.
Rishi Sunak holds a 11% lead over Keir Starmer for the best Prime Minister at this moment, a one-point increase since last week. Between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak, 41% think Rishi Sunak would be the better Prime Minister for the United Kingdom (no change), against 30% who think Keir Starmer would be (down 1%).