The “stick to the plan” slogan of Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party has been criticized as ineffective by pollsters, who warn that voters feel worse off than they did when the party came to power in 2010.
Pollster Luke Tryl from More in Common highlighted that the repeated contrast between Sunak’s plan and Labour’s policies may backfire, as many voters express a desire to return to a previous state rather than continue with the current trajectory.
This sentiment reflects a broader trend revealed in polling, reminiscent of Ronald Reagan’s famous question during the 1980 US presidential election: “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” More than half of the UK public report feeling worse off compared to 14 years ago, with only a quarter feeling better off.
Among those who supported the Conservatives in the 2019 election, nearly half feel poorer now, indicating a significant dissatisfaction with the economic situation under Tory governance.
The public’s perception extends beyond individual circumstances, with eight in 10 voters believing that the country as a whole is worse off than it was 14 years ago.
Luke Tryl emphasized the challenge facing the Tories in convincing the public to “stick with the plan,” noting that many would prefer to return to a previous state rather than continue with the current trajectory.
Rishi Sunak’s repeated calls for voters to stick with the Tories in the next general election, warning against a return to Labour, come amidst speculation about the timing of the election.
While ruling out a snap election in May, Sunak has not indicated when the election will be called, with sources suggesting a date around October 10th.
Polling data consistently indicates a significant lead for Labour, with Sir Keir Starmer projected to win the keys to No. 10 Downing Street.
Recent polling by People Polling, a member of the British Polling Council, places the Tories at just 18 percent, trailing Labour by a significant margin.
Should these trends persist, the Conservative Party faces the prospect of electoral oblivion, with potential losses of hundreds of seats and a significant challenge from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which commands a notable share of the vote according to recent polls.