As the race to become the next Conservative Party leader heats up, the British public appears largely indifferent. A recent Ipsos poll, published in August, found that the majority of people do not have strong opinions about who will replace Rishi Sunak.
The poll revealed that nearly two-thirds of voters (64%) have no preference regarding the outcome of the leadership race. This includes almost a third (32%) of those who voted Conservative in the last general election. The findings suggest widespread apathy towards the contest among the public.
For those who do have an opinion, James Cleverly is seen as the most favourable candidate. He leads with 18% of respondents believing he would do a good job. Tom Tugendhat follows closely with 17% support. Robert Jenrick, despite being one of the frontrunners, received little mention.
The research also highlighted that none of the candidates are well-known by most of the British public. This unfamiliarity may explain the general lack of enthusiasm surrounding the leadership race.
The poll also asked about political endorsements and their potential impact. A significant 65% of respondents felt that an endorsement from Liz Truss would hurt a candidate’s chances of winning. Similarly, 46% believed support from Nigel Farage would have a negative impact, and 44% said the same for Boris Johnson.
However, David Cameron’s endorsement could slightly benefit a candidate. While 32% of respondents said his support might improve a candidate’s prospects, 31% believed it would have the opposite effect.
As the contest continues, it’s clear that the Conservative Party faces an uphill battle to engage a public that remains largely uninterested in the race.
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