'Sunak continues as UK's golden boy, outranks Johnson in popularity'

MORE than half of Tory voters want Chancellor Rishi Sunak to replace prime minister Boris Johnson when he leaves No 10, as per a recent poll which added that about 47 per cent of Conservatives think the handover should take place in the next 12 months. 

As per recent poll findings from research by pollsters JL Partners for Mail Online, the British public perceive Sunak as more intelligent, competent and trustworthy than Johnson.

The findings come a few days after it was reported that Johnson threatened to demote Sunak over a leaked letter from the Chancellor demanding more action to ease Covid curbs.

While more people prefer to go to the pub with Johnson, as per the poll, they said they will rely on Sunak to “pay back a £20 loan, look after their dog and fix a wobbly shelf”, reports said.

Six out of ten voters (61 per cent) – and nearly one in two Conservatives (46 per cent) – in the poll said that the former London mayor has “run out of steam” since delivering Brexit.

Overall, 42 per cent said Sunak will be a better prime minister while only 24 per cent said the nation should stick with Johnson.

Of the Tories who want Sunak to succeed Johnson, 11 per cent wanted him to do so now, while a further 36 per cent wanted him to do so within a year and nearly four in five (77 per cent) of such voters think it should happen within three years.

Among all voters, 40 per cent say Sunak is more likely to win an election as compared to 27 per cent rooting for Johnson.

“As tensions flare in Downing Street, Rishi Sunak remains the nation's golden boy... He beats Boris on all policy and character attributes apart from charisma,” said JL Partners which interviewed 1,019 adults on Monday (9).

It was reported on Sunday (8) that  Johnson was “apoplectic” with anger over a leaked letter in which Sunak had urged for a significant easing of the coronavirus travel restrictions. The reports claimed the prime minister had even suggested a demotion for the Chancellor from the powerful treasury department to take charge of health.

Johnson was also rumoured to be considering a reshuffle in the autumn although his spokesman said there were no imminent plans for a shake-up.