Tories sink to their lowest poll rating of Rishi Sunak's time in No10 with the party closer to Reform than Labour as almost a fifth of 2019 Conservatives say they will switch their vote to Farage party

The Conservatives have sunk to their lowest popularity rating since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, a grim new poll reveals today.

The Tories have fallen three points to 22 per cent in the latest survey by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, a point lower than the pollsters recorded after he took over from Liz Truss in October 2022.

It is higher than the low of 19 per cent the Tories polled under his predecessor Liz Truss but they are now 23 points behind Labour and just 10 points ahead of Reform, which is now up to 12 per cent, a figure which will set alarm bells ringing in No10.

Almost a fifth (18 per cent) of those who voted Tory at the 2019 election said they would now switch to the party set up by Nigel Farage, almost as many as who say they will now vote Labour (19 per cent)

It comes after a week of turmoil in Tory ranks, with the party bitterly divided over plans to deport Channel migrants to Rwanda.

And the PM faces further battles ahead to turn the polls around before an election expected in the second half of the year.

The Tories have fallen three points to 22 per cent in the latest survey by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, a point lower than the pollsters recorded after he took over from Liz Truss in October 2022.

Rishi Sunak, pictured today on a visit to Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, is trying to glue the Tories back together ahead of the election

Peers are gearing up for battle with the PM  today as they attempt to stop the new Rwanda Treaty being ratified.

Labour former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has tabled a motion seeking to delay the pact – adding a fresh obstacle to the government’s plans.

The move comes despite the PM delivering a stark warning that the unelected House must not ‘frustrate the will of the people’ after Rwanda legislation was passed by the Commons.

The UK agreed the treaty with Kigali in December, saying it addressed concerns raised by the Supreme Court about the possibility of asylum seekers deported to Rwanda then being transferred to a country where they could be at risk.

The agreement underpins the legislation designed to get deportation flights up and running by Mr Sunak’s Spring deadline.

This morning Mr Sunak admitted there are also ‘practical issues’ with his flagship childcare policy today – as he gave a vote of confidence in Jeremy Hunt.

The PM conceded there are difficulties but played down mounting concerns that the planned expansion of free childcare faces delays.

He insisted the government will keep the pledge that all working parents of two year olds will get 15 hours a week funded from April.

Mr Sunak also moved to quash mutterings about Mr Hunt’s position, categorically confirming he will be Chancellor at the time of the next election.

The premier is pinning his hopes of staying in power on tax cuts on the Budget on March 6, with claims income tax or national insurance will be targeted.

Mr Hunt invoked the Thatcherite spirit of the 1980s over the weekend, with speculation that he could have £10billion to play with due to lower borrowing costs.

But there are worrying signs for Mr Sunak this morning, with claims that his crucial Meanwhile, research by More in Common has suggested Mr Sunak’s personal ratings have been tumbling, with just 26 per cent of voters viewing him as an asset compared to 37 per cent in October.

The government will get official figures on the public finances tomorrow, and the Office for Budget Responsibility watchdog will give a private early assessment to the Treasury this week.