A top pollster says the Tories are “as popular as Prince Andrew” as the party readies itself for tricky by-election results.
The Government is desperately bidding to avoid a double defeat in Wellingborough and Kingswood.
But they face an uphill task with Tory MP Philip Davies conceding on GB News it would be a “miracle” were they to hold onto either seat.
Also speaking on GB News was pollster Matt Goodwin, who discussed the public sentiment surrounding the Conservatives currently.
Matt Goodwin has compared Tory popularity to Prince Andrew
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He claimed they are currently as popular as disgraced royal Prince Andrew, who finds himself out of the royal fold thanks to questions about his involvement with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“We know from focus groups that weak is a word that people associate with Rishi Sunak”, he said.
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Sunak faces a potentially defining double by-election result
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Matt Goodwin says the Tories are as popular as Prince Andrew
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“Compared to Keir Starmer, Sunak’s ratings are weaker and they have reached a new low.
“Sunak has a leadership problem and the party itself has an image problem.
“The net satisfaction score for the party is minus 65, which is where Prince Andrew is within the Royal Family if you want a reference point.”
Andrew’s accuser Virginia Giuffre claims she was paid $15,000 by Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the royal when she was 17, court documents revealed in January.
The Duke of York has strenuously denied any wrongdoing and has claimed he never met Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein.
In Wellingborough and Kingswood the Government is defending majorities of more than 10,000, while Labour hopes to see its poll lead translate into votes.
The elections follow a week of difficult headlines for both main parties.
The Conservatives face questions over their economic record after it emerged on Thursday that the UK had entered a recession at the end of 2023.
Labour has been mired in an antisemitism row and criticism of its decision to withdraw a pledge to spend £28 billion on green projects.
Both contests are seen largely as two-horse races between Labour and the Conservatives, but could also provide an indication of the strength of Reform UK, which has seen its polling numbers surge as it targets disgruntled voters on the right.
