A day after admitting mistakes and apologizing for an economic program that in her words went “too far and too fast”, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss saw survey data carried out in recent days confirm the crisis in which its management is sunk.
This Tuesday (18) the YouGov institute released the results of surveys carried out among members of the Conservative Party and society in general. In both cases Truss appears to remain at risk amid the inauguration of new finance minister Jeremy Hunt and the 180-degree turn he has made in plans to deal with the country’s rising cost of living and energy difficulties.
Among the British, eight out of ten disapprove of the government, according to the survey carried out between the 14th and 16th. The rate of 77% is the highest level of dissatisfaction in the last 11 years of monitoring. Of those polled, 87% said they believe Truss is mishandling the economy — an especially hard blow for a party that often boasts about its performance in the area and fiscal discipline.
Another setback for the prime minister is the assessment made of her predecessor, Boris Johnson. Despite having resigned amid intense pressure, given the accumulation of crises, the politician has the least scratched image: 30% of Britons have a good impression of him, three times the approval of the current incumbent.
Even among Conservative voters, Truss’s situation is complicated. Only one in five has a favorable opinion of her. YouGov also interviewed parliamentarians of the legend, and the data show that only two in five (38%) defend her permanence; those who wish to resign reach 55% of respondents.
Support is only greater among those who say they voted for prime minister in the party’s internal election — 57%. In this group, however, 39% say they want Truss’s resignation, an expressive number for the support base of a government that is barely in its infancy.
In the event of a hypothetical resignation, 32% of Conservative MPs want to see Boris back — something that otherwise seems unlikely to happen. Then Rishi Sunak, who disputed with her for the succession, is cited by 20%, ahead of Defense Minister Ben Wallace (10%).
Among those who supported Truss, the leaning towards Boris is even greater: 44% believe he would be the best successor.
This Tuesday, the prime minister met with her cabinet and participated in a meeting with part of her co-religionists. According to the British press, Conservative MPs have heard calls from government officials to postpone any move to overthrow the leader before the government presents its full fiscal plan on the 31st.
The day before, when she apologized in an interview with the BBC, Truss silently followed Hunt’s statements in Parliament outlining a new economic plan, which demolished the one she had drawn up with former minister Kwasi Kwarteng.
The image did not express the best demonstration of confidence that the policy can remain in office. After its “mini-budget” triggered a deep disorder in the pound price and in the bond market – to the point that the Bank of England had to act to prevent pension funds from collapsing – party leaders such as the Minister of the Armed Forces, James Heappey, said Truss has no more room to make mistakes.
With the prime minister herself admitting turbulent times ahead and Britain’s economic reputation shaken, Hunt may now have to go further in pursuit of spending cuts at a time of soaring inflation.
A spokesperson said the government was yet to make commitments in specific areas, but stressed that management was focused on protecting the most vulnerable and increasing defense spending by 2030.
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
