The PM is lacks support at every level on the party. How much longer can this zombie government stagger on for?
Confidence for a Tory-led government after the next election has hit a new low in Conservative Home’s survey this morning — and with reports of serious disquiet amongst Tory donors and MPs, confidence in the PM appears to be dwindling at every level in the party.
Just over 1,200 people responded to the survey by ‘Britain’s leading Conservative blog’, which has been run every month since last year’s election and aims to gauge the views of the Tory party rank and file.
Only 59 per cent of respondents thought there would be a Tory-led government after the next election, down from 68 per cent in December.
- 34 per cent thought the Tories could achieve a majority government, down from 46 per cent in December.
- 17 per cent thought there could be a Tory minority government, up from 15 per cent last month.
- 7 per cent thought the Tories could form and lead a coalition government, with no change from December.
Confidence in a Tory-led government is at its lowest level since Conservative Home began the poll in July last year. The blog’s editor Paul Goodman commented:
“While this isn’t a collapse – the total was only two points higher in September and three in October – it is a sharp fall since last month. The reasons are obvious and there is no need to describe them.”
The poll is just one indication amongst many in recent weeks of serious and growing discontent at Theresa May’s leadership within the party.
At a Tory fundraising dinner last Thursday, tensions reportedly boiled over and about a quarter of attendees are said to have demanded her resignation. One attendee is reported to have said:
“Among even the most loyal middle-ranking donors there is utter despair”.
According to The Times, at the event one Tory donor stood up and said to those assembled: ‘I love Theresa May, who could possibly want to replace her?’ — unexpectedly, about a quarter of the room responded ‘yes, we do.’
“This was a room of very, very traditional donors”, the source said.
One senior Tory summed up the mood in the party and Downing Street: “there is no one defending her but no plot to oust her”. It can’t go on like this for much longer, surely?
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
One Response to “Tory grassroots confidence in May hits new low as PM faces backbench and donor despair”
William
I can hear a sad little voice saying: “Is there anybody out there?”
The lunatics are taking over the asylum