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Support for the Conservatives has fallen as allegations of sleaze at the heart of Boris Johnson’s government continue to mount, a new poll suggests.
The findings will fuel fears the Tories are starting to lose their ‘vaccine bounce’ with just over a week to go before the local elections.
Ipsos MORI found the prime minister’s party on 40 per cent, down from 45 per cent in March, with Labour on 37 per cent, down from 38.
The monthly poll, first reported in the Evening Standard, has the Liberal Democrats on eight (up from six), and the Greens unchanged at five.
Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI, said: “Conservative supporters are feeling slightly less enthusiastic this month, which is feeding through into vote share, although there is little sign of much switching to Labour.
“At the same time, some of the underlying numbers remain more positive for the Government, with economic optimism increasing once again, and very strong ratings for the vaccination programme across the board, which means we need to wait to see whether this is just a short term effect. But this data suggests that the upcoming elections will be an important test for both parties.”
Voters go to the polls on May 6 in a series of elections across the UK, including local elections in England and crunch Scottish Parliament elections that the SNP argue could deliver a mandate for another independence referendum.
Former Conservative No 10 chief of staff Lord Barwell said his party should be wary that negative headlines, including today’s claim that Boris Johnson said he would rather see bodies pile high than order another Covid lockdown, could lead to a “tipping point” in the opinion polls.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The Conservatives will be happy with the progress they’ve made during the course of this year but you never know when you reach a tipping point.
“And I suspect some people in number 10 will be worried about what else there might be to come. This morning’s headlines are an example of that.”
Mr Johnson has denied he made the controversial comments, first reported in the Daily Mail.
ITV political editor Robert Peston has reported that “two eye-witnesses” had told him that they heard Mr Johnson making the “bodies piling up” remarks.
Mr Peston said he was told the prime minister shouted it in his study shortly after agreeing “in a rage” to the second lockdown.
As the doors to the Cabinet room and outer office were open, a number of people supposedly heard the comment, he reported.
But the PM’s official spokesman denied the account, telling reporters: “The prime minister himself didn’t make that statement and I’m not aware of anyone else (in Downing Street) making that statement.
“The prime minister has fully denied saying this. He is on the record denying saying it.”
Ipsos Mori interviewed 1,090 adults across Great Britain telephone between 16 and 22 April.
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