Fewer than a fifth of Tory members believe that Rishi Sunak could win the party a majority at the next general election, according to a new poll.
The survey by YouGov found the Conservative faithful were doubtful of a major electoral success.
The figures for Mr Sunak – the former chancellor – are most stark, with just 19 per cent of those polled suggesting the “most likely” result after the next election would be a Conservative majority in the Commons.
Thirty-three per cent thought the most likely scenario was a hung parliament with a Tory-led government while 23 opted for a Labour-led government and 14 per cent for a Labour majority – the first in over a decade.
Earlier, a YouGov poll has put Liz Truss well ahead of her rival Rishi Sunak in support from party members, with her lead increasing to 34 points.
Mr Sunak appears to have lost significant ground as 60 per cent of the party members polled between 29 July and 2 August say they intend to vote for the foreign secretary.
Liz Truss is becoming the ‘continuity chaos’ as well as ‘continuity Boris’ candidate
In winning the Tory leadership election, the new PM is in danger of losing the next general election, writes our politics commentator, Andrew Grice.
Read Andrew’s full piece here:
Opinion: Liz Truss is the ‘continuity chaos’ as well as ‘continuity Boris’ candidate
In winning the Tory leadership election, the new PM is in danger of losing the next general election
Lionesses’ write to Tory leadership hopefuls demanding football equality in schools
England’s Lionesses have written to Tory leadership hopefuls Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak demanding that girls are offered the same opporunities to play football as boys in schools.
It comes after figures revealed that just 63 per cent of girls were being offered football lessons in PE classes across the country.
In their letter, the Lionesses’ say that their win over Germany in the Euro final on Sunday night was “only the beginning”.
“We want every young girl in the nation to be able to play football at school,” they add.
Read the letter in full below:
Inflation could hit eye-watering 15 per cent next year
Inflation could hit an eye-watering 15 per cent next year, experts are warning.
It comes as the Bank of England prepares to hike interest rates in a bid to tackle rising prices.
Jack Leslie, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said the outlook for inflation is “highly uncertain”, and largely driven by unpredictable gas prices.
Our economics correspondent Ben Chapman reports:
Inflation to hit ‘astronomical’ 15% next year as households face £3,600 energy bills
Bank of England expected to hike interest rates by 0.5% to tame out-of-control price rises fuelled by Russia’s war in Ukraine
Truss dodges questions on why she didn’t reshape ‘war on Whitehall’ waste policy
Liz Truss declined to answer a question on why she binned rather than reshaped a policy to cut costs across Whitehall.
Asked why completely scrapped the plans, she said: “I’m very clear we are not proceeding with this policy,” she told reporters in Ludlow, Shropshire ahead of a hustings events in Wales later.
“What’s important to me is that we support people at this difficult economic time by reversing the national insurance rise, by getting rid of the green energy levy to save people money on their fuel bills.
“That will be my focus as prime minister.”
Truss urges China to tone down ‘inflammatory’ language on Taiwan
Foreign secretary Liz Truss has criticised China’s “inflammatory” response to a senior US politician’s visit to Taiwan.
Tensions with China have been heightened by US House speaker, Nancy Pelosi visiting the island.
Beijing responded by announcing multiple military exercises around the island, parts of which will enter Taiwanese waters.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and opposes any engagement by Taiwanese officials with foreign governments.
Ms Truss, speaking on a Conservative Party leadership campaign visit in Ludlow, Shropshire, said: “I do not support China’s inflammatory language on this issue.
“It’s perfectly reasonable what is taking place and I urge China to de-escalate.”
UK needs to work out a plan ‘now’ on Taiwan
The UK needs to work out a plan “now” on how to responding to the increasing threat China poses to Taiwan, a Tory MP has said.
Bob Seely, a member of the inter-parliamentary Alliance on China, says Russia’s war in Ukraine should serve a warning.
“We’ve seen what happens when you allow authoritarian states to get away with doing things which are very bad for the international order”.
More comments below:
Parliament shuts TikTok account after MPs’ fears over firm’s links to China
Parliament has shut its TikTok account after MPs raised concerns about the social media firm’s Chinese links.
A number of MPs hit by Chinese sanctions for speaking out against “gross human rights violations” had protested against the recent creation of the social media account.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Sunak defines ‘vilification of the UK’ as extremism in terrorism policy proposal
Rishi Sunak has announced plans to include the “vilification of the United Kingdom” into an official definition of extremism.
In a series of policy proposals on terrorism, the Conservative leadership candidate also claimed he would “refocus” the Prevent programme on Islamist extremism.
Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden reports:
Rishi Sunak wants to define ‘vilification of the UK’ as extremism
Leadership candidate also wants to ‘reform’ Prevent programme – but government-commissioned review already underway
Under fifth of Tory members say ‘most likely’ scenario is a Tory majority under Rishi Sunak
Fewer than a fifth of Tory members believe that Rishi Sunak could win the party a majority at the next general election, according to a new poll.
The survey by YouGov found the Conservative faithful were doubtful of a major electoral success.
The figures for Mr Sunak – the former chancellor – are most stark, with just 19 per cent of those polled suggesting the “most likely” result after the next election would be a Conservative majority in the Commons.
Thirty-three per cent thought the most likely scenario was a hung parliament with a Tory-led government while 23 opted for a Labour-led government and 14 per cent for a Labour majority – the first in over a decade.
Our politics correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:
Under fifth of Tory members say ‘most likely’ scenario is a Tory majority under Sunak
Almost 40% of Tory members believe scenario is ‘most likely’ for Liz Truss
Jeremy Corbyn criticises West for ‘pouring arms into Ukraine and prolonging war’
The former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has criticised the west for arming Ukraine, arguing that its military support will prolong the war.
My colleague Rory Sullivan reports:
Jeremy Corbyn criticises West for ‘pouring arms into Ukraine’
Former Labour leader accuses Kyiv’s allies of using ‘language of more war’
