Boris Johnson took a devastating poll defeat today, as his ratings fell to their lowest ever level following today’s sleaze scandal.
In the most recent Opinium survey the PM’s net approval rating fell to minus 20, the lowest ever recorded by the firm. Meanwhile, the Tory lead has dropped four points.
Following a week that saw Mr Johnson’s attempt to rescue Owen Paterson, an ally of Labour from being punished for his lobbying shamefully fail, Labour is now only one point behind the Conservatives.
Prime Minister is expecting more trouble tomorrow as MPs discuss the meltdown of the standards. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle will likely step in to defend the “integrity and integrity” of parliament.
Privately, he is said to be furious at the government’s arrogance and will likely back a system review to boost confidence.
There are predictions that a review will lead to MPs found guilty of financial misdemeanours being able to appeal to a retired judge – one of the Tories’ key demands in last week’s stormy exchanges in the House.
But it could also look at whether MPs should still be able to earn thousands of pounds from outside interests on top of their Commons’ salary of £81,932.
Yesterday, Sir John Major, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom launched an attack on Mr Johnson’s government’s’shameful actions’. He claimed that Johnson’s government was’maybe politically corrupt.
Sir Keir starmer is a Labour leader and has written to the group that decides peerage nominations to say that Mr Paterson should not receive an honour, even if Downing Street recommends it.
Boris Johnson (left), was dealt a devastating poll blow by his rating plunge today in the aftermath of Owen Paterson’s (right), standards report.
Tomorrow’s MPs will debate the standard meltdown. The Premier is expected to feel more pain. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle is likely to take over to protect the integrity of Parliament.
Today’s Opinium poll by the Observer revealed that the Tories ranked at 37%, three points lower than last week.
Sir John Major, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was adamant about Mr Johnson’s government’s’shameful actions’. He claimed that Johnson’s administration had been ‘politically corrupt’.
Today’s Opinium poll by the Observer revealed the extent of the damage. It put the Tories at 37%, down from last week.
Labour rose one point to 36%. Liberal Democrats were one point higher at 93%, and Greens fell one percent at 6%.
Mr Johnson’s net approval rating was down from minus 16 last week – with 30 per cent of those surveyed approving of the job he is doing and 50 per cent disapproving.
Sir Keir was ninety-nine, with 37% disapproving and 29% appraising.
Mr Paterson quit after Mr Johnson abandoned a plan which would have seen his case – and the whole standards regime – reviewed by a Tory-led committee.
Sir Lindsay has authorised a three-hour emergency debate tomorrow, where opposition MPs are set to revisit questions about his lavish Downing Street flat overhaul and ‘freebie’ holiday in Spain.
The Speaker will be ready to make proposals for the review of standards, possibly led by retired clerks.
Source close to Speaker tells Sunday Times, “He must listen to what MPs have to say in tomorrow’s discussion before taking any action.”
“But he is certain that he will need to take over to preserve the integrity of Parliament if no other solutions are available.”
Johnson faces a backlash for refusing the Commons register to report his recent trip to Lord Goldsmith’s luxurious villa near Marbella.
The decision to make the ministerial registry, meaning he doesn’t have to declare the value, raises concerns that it could lead to a heated dispute with the Speaker regarding ministers who fail to respect Parliament.
Sir Lindsay has repeatedly criticised the government’s decision to make announcements at press conferences or interviews, rather than coming before the Commons.
Kwasi Kwarteng was slapped by the Speaker last week after suggesting Kathryn Hudson, standards commissioner, should be removed.
MailOnline received information from a Commons source stating that the villa, if it was owned by Lord Goldsmith it couldn’t be treated as a gift. That could make No10’s objections to registering it on the MP registry weaker.
In a further signs of Tory anger about the mess, ex-minister Caroline Nokes – a prominent critic of Mr Johnson – said the government’s behaviour ‘stinks’.
The Sunday Mirror quoted her as saying: “If I am correct, my postbag shows that the public considers the PM’s move to rush to judgment and target Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone to be a sham.” It does.
Sir Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader has written to the committee that reviews nominations for peerages in protest at the decision not to award Mr Paterson an honor if Downing Street suggests him for it.
Jacob Rees Mogg, Commons Leader (left), and Mark Spencer, Chief Whip (right) were blamed for their ‘disastrous strategies’ regarding the standard system.
Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Defence Committee said that Johnson could end up being ‘just another occupant at No 10’ if Johnson takes Parliament as his own.
Ellwood stated that the testing times caused people to turn to their government for leadership, statecraft, and vision.
In The Sun, Mr Ellwood said that ‘a PM who takes Parliament as granted will not achieve any of these things’ and would end up “just another former tenant of No 10”.
The senior Conservative, who was axed from the Government when Mr Johnson replaced Theresa May in July 2019, said: ‘This mess should be used as an opportunity to press the reset button on the entire Parliament-government relationship, then regroup. The ranks are raging.
“Constituents are rightly horrified by the events they’ve seen.” A system to be used by MPs; another for the common good.
It comes as Labour claimed there was a ‘cash for access culture’ in the Tory party following reports a series of donors who give the Tories £3 million and serve as the Conservative treasurer have been put forward for seats in the Lords.
Sir John yesterday said that it would be quite extraordinary to have a peerage for Paterson.
Opinium interviewed 1,840 adults in the UK between November 5-6