Rishi Sunak’s approval ratings fall to lowest level since becoming prime minister

Rishi Sunak’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since he entered No 10, new polling has shown.

A survey from YouGov showed the prime minister’s net favourability had hit -40, a 6% decrease from just last month, with almost two-thirds of respondents (65%) having an unfavourable view of the Conservative Party leader, compared to 25% with a favourable one.

And even when it came to Tory voters, opinions on Mr Sunak were split, with 47% saying they held a favourable view of the PM and 45% an unfavourable one.

That was a significant drop from June, when 51% were favourable, compared with 40% who felt the opposite.

The statistics come as Mr Sunak is about to face his final Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons today before the summer recess, having missed the previous two outings due to other commitments.

But they also come 24 hours ahead of three crunch by-elections, with opposition parties hoping to un-seat the Conservatives in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Selby and Ainsty, and Somerton and Frome.

Results are expected to come in the early hours of Friday morning, so be sure to stay with Sky News for coverage on TV and online.

The YouGov polling of 2,151 adults earlier this week doesn’t make great reading for Labour’s leader either.

Sir Keir Starmer’s approval rating has dropped from an already negative -14 in June to -22, and while 32% had a favourable view of him, 54% of respondents had an unfavourable one.

Labour voters were more supportive of the leader, however, with 60% having a positive opinion of Sir Keir, compared with 31% with a negative one.