As an example of how much shoot we're still in....
Tory members think MPs should choose unity candidate to replace Truss, rather than hold new ballot, poll suggests
The
YouGov poll also suggests that, if Truss were to stand down, party members think the best option would be for MPs to agree on a single unity candidate as a replacement. This is what happened in 2003, when Iain Duncan Smith lost a confidence vote and was replaced by Michael Howard.
Some MPs have been worried about the membership feeling snubbed if they were to be shut out of the selection process in this way, but the YouGov poll suggests that members would prefer MPs to select a unity candidate than a normal contest. This probably reflects their fear that another contest so soon after the last one would look ridiculous.
Members think the worst option would be for MPs to hold a contest, but for members to be refused a say as a result of an agreement that the runner-up in the parliamentary contest would withdraw from the contest at that point. This is what happened in 2016, when Theresa May became leader after Andrea Leadsom pulled out once she was on the final ballot. Leadsom’s decision was a personal one, which took the party by surprise. But some MPs have floated the idea that, if Truss does resign, candidates should only be allowed to stand on condition that they would accept the winner of the MPs’ ballot.
Poll of Tory members on how a replacement for Truss could be chosen Photograph: YouGov
Updated at 12.54 BST
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Majority of Tory members think Truss should resign, poll suggests
A majority of Conservative party members – including 39% of members who voted for her in the summer – think
Liz Truss should resign, according to new polling from
YouGov.
In
his analysis of the polling, YouGov’s
Matthew Smith says 55% figure for members who say Truss should resign is similar to 59% who wanted Boris Johnson to quit shortly before he did announce his departure.
Asked who should replace Truss if she were to resign in the next few weeks, Boris Johnson came top (on 32%), ahead of Rishi Sunak (23%) and Ben Wallace (10%).
But the poll also suggests that members would be almost equally happy with either Johnson, Wallace or Sunak. Penny Mordaunt and Jeremy Hunt are not far behind.
Polling of Tory members on who would be a good replacement for Liz Truss Photograph: YouGov
