The average score is the lowest recently, though not by all that much – a natural extension of the panel’s verdict yesterday on the Government’s economic policy.
Wallace is top again. Badenoch and Cleverly score well. Sunak wins a respectable rating. And Williamson is in negative territory.
I was a Conservative MP for the best part of ten years, and have been a political journalist for the better part of 20. But as the old song about the Pushmepullyou has it, I’ve “never seen anything like it in my life”.
It is doubtful whether the PM will have a more devoted ally than the new Health Secretary.
The Chancellor may have reassured the markets by daring to be dull, but did nothing to raise the spirits of Conservatives.
Wallace is top again – with Cleverly, Badenoch, Braverman, Rees-Mogg and Mordaunt above 50 points. There’s a tentative air about this table, as the panel feels its way with the new regime.
For the first time since 1979, we saw a Tory PM enter office who believes in an economic doctrine and is not afraid to preach it.
The Prime Minister’s score is still dire: he is back in positive ratings, but not by very much. Though a substantial minority of the panel want him on the leadership election ballot and/or would vote for him had they the option, a larger majority of it does not.
“People can claim asylum in France,” adds the Work and Pensions Secretary. “It is important for us to expand the Rwandan programme.”
Coffey says Boris Johnson demonstrates leadership in the UK and across the world.
A pattern is beginning to form below the Defence Secretary, with Truss, Zahawi and Trevelyan coming in variously at second, third and fourth.
Meanwhile, Johnson is out of negative ratings for the first time in three months – and in comparative mid-table safety.
Johnson is still in negative ratings, though less so, and Sunak’s score is at its lowest since he became Chancellor.
And Ministers associated with support for Covid restrictions suffer noticeable falls in their scores.
There is a willingness to give the new Cabinet a chance, but nervousness about the country’s economic prospects and the Party’s strategic direction.