LORD ASHCROFT: Don't be gulled by Labour's rocky start. The Conservatives have a huge task to restore their reputation for competent government By Lord Ashcroft For The Daily Mail Published: 22:00, 28 September 2024 | Updated: 22:26, 28 September 2024 e-mail 8 View comments The Tories will gather in Birmingham on Sunday, for their first conference since July's General Election disaster, in a much more cheerful mood than anyone could have expected. Labour 's approval ratings have plunged, following the grasping hypocrisy of 'freebiegate' and a string of unpopular decisions – from scrapping the winter fuel allowance for most pensioners to the early release of criminals.
It's a grim start for a Government which, at least in terms of popularity, was never on a very firm footing to begin with. Its huge majority is built on the lowest vote share ever achieved by a winning party. In the survey I conducted last month, we offered people a wide range of possible explanations for the result and asked which they found most convincing.
It turned out that enthusiasm for Starmer and Labour were bottom of the list. I also found that people were willing to give the new regime only a limited time to prove itself before deciding whether or not it is doing a good job – and it hasn't exactly been a stellar start. Labour 's approval ratings have plunged, following the grasping hypocrisy of 'freebiegate' and a string of unpopular decisions.
Pictured: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Conservative.