Voters shifting away: Tory sleaze row starting to hurt Conservatives in the polls
Two-thirds of voters now consider the governing party “very sleazy” amid a flurry of negative headlines, as voters are shifting away from the Tories, according to new polling.
A poll by Savanta ComRes for the Daily Mail puts Labour six points ahead of the Conservatives in a sign that recent revelations about MPs’ second jobs and the handling of the Owen Paterson affair could hurt Boris Johnson’s party at the ballot box.
The results, in which the Tories dropped four points and Labour climbed five since a similar poll a week ago, are based on a survey of more than 2,000 people in the UK, conducted on Thursday and Friday.
YouGov polling published yesterday and carried out this week also suggested the Tories had lost their lead, with its findings putting Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party neck and neck on 35 per cent of the vote share.
The polling, published in The Times, found two-thirds of voters viewed the Tories as “very sleazy” following Paterson’s resignation and MP second jobs and homes revelations.
A separate survey by Redfield & Wilton Strategies on Wednesday put Labour two points ahead of the Tories.
Paterson scandal
The findings come after the Government attempted to rip up the current Commons standards system to delay former Tory cabinet minister Paterson’s suspension for breaking lobbying rules, and revelations former attorney general Sir Geoffrey Cox voted by proxy while offering legal services in the Caribbean.
Speaking before the Savanta ComRes’ results were published, the Prime Minister had rejected suggestions the sleaze allegations being levelled at his party could be reflected at the ballot box in forthcoming by-elections.
Johnson visited Sidcup on Friday afternoon, where voters will elect a new MP in December after the death of former security minister James Brokenshire last month.
The Conservative leader insisted the strength of the local candidate in the Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency meant voters would back the Tories in the December 2 race.
The Prime Minister, however, said he did not “underestimate the vital importance” of MPs refraining from engaging in paid advocacy.
A Tory MP from the 2019 in-take said he thought the sleaze row, which he admitted had divided his party, had provided Labour with an opportunity to gain ground.
James Sunderland, MP for Bracknell, said: “The left are not in government, they want to be in government, and they’re looking for weakness.
“And I think in many ways, what has happened over the last week or so has provided that opportunity for them.”
The backbencher said the Tories needed to “restore” their “reputational integrity” in the face of criticisms of the Government’s handling of the situation.
The comments and polling come as Lord Evans, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said the public cared about issues such as standards – a point recent polling surveys appear to bear out.
Speaking at an event for the Constitution Unit research centre, based at University College London, the former MI5 chief called on the Government to “do more” to uphold decency.
“The past week has shown that standards do matter to the public. Ethical standards are important for making democracy work. The public does care about this,” he said.
Lord Evans said the saga involving former Tory MP Paterson, which kicked off the current focus on standards, had created “a huge wave of concern”.
Paterson opted to resign as MP for North Shropshire after 24 years, teeing up another December by-election, after the Government U-turned on its standards reforms when opposition parties made clear they would not support them.
The botched handling of the affair has since thrust how much time and money MPs raise from second jobs back into the spotlight, along with scrutiny of second home arrangements.
The Times reported 14 MPs were taking advantage of a loophole in the Parliamentary expenses scheme which means they can let their homes to tenants, and then claim for rent paid on a London rental property to live in.
Meanwhile, the Herald Scotland reports Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross has referred himself to the parliamentary standards watchdog for failing to fully record his MSP salary, as well as almost £7,000 in outside earnings as a football referee.
In a statement to the paper, the Moray MP said: “This was an error on my behalf that shouldn’t have happened, and I apologise for not registering these payments on time.
“Since realising my mistake last week, I contacted the Office of the Register of Interests and made them aware of the situation. All payments have now been declared, including those from my MSP salary that are donated to charities.”