In a staggering blow to the Conservative Party, a recent Ipsos survey for The Standard has revealed that support for the Tories across Britain has plummeted to an all-time low of just 20 percent. This marks the lowest level of support for the Conservatives since 1978, when Ipsos began its regular poll tracking, and places them a staggering 27 percentage points behind the Labour Party.

The dramatic decline in support for the Conservatives, dropping seven points from 27 percent in January, underscores a significant shift in political sentiment. Previous lows for the Tories were recorded in 1994 and 1995 under John Major’s leadership, as well as in 1997 during Tony Blair’s ascension to power with New Labour. The decline in December 2022, shortly after Rishi Sunak assumed office following Liz Truss’s tumultuous tenure, also saw support dip to 23 percent.

The bleak outlook for the Tories worsened with the announcement by former London minister Paul Scully that he would not seek re-election in Sutton and Cheam, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s choice of mayoral candidate for London, Susan Hall.

Several factors may have contributed to the sharp decline in Tory support in February. Official data indicating Britain’s entry into recession, coupled with consecutive by-election losses in Wellingborough and Kingswood, and inflammatory remarks by Tory MP Lee Anderson directed at Sadiq Khan, likely played a role in shaping public opinion.

The headline voting intention figures paint a picture of Labour’s ascendancy, with the party commanding 47 percent of support, albeit down two points from previous polling. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have seen a modest increase to nine percent, and the Greens have gained one point to reach eight percent. Of significant concern to Tory MPs is the doubling of support for Reform UK, now standing at eight percent, coupled with the Conservative Party’s diminishing appeal among adults under 35, where they now languish in single-digit support.

Rishi Sunak, the current Prime Minister, has also experienced a significant decline in approval ratings, with a record high of 73 percent expressing dissatisfaction, leaving him with a net score of -54.

The Tories find themselves at a critical juncture, grappling with an unprecedented loss of support while Labour gains momentum. The road to political recovery appears challenging as the party confronts internal and external challenges amid a shifting political landscape.