Yahoo News Rishi Sunak's popularity plummets to 'all-time low' amid cost of living crisis
Rishi Sunak’s approval rating as chancellor is at an "all-time low" amid a cost of living crisis backlash.
Sunak has been criticised following this week’s spring statement, which had been designed to address the crisis but was widely deemed as not going far enough.
Now, a poll by Opinium has shown his approval ratings have dropped to 31%, having been at 48% after his first budget in March 2020.
His decline in popularity comes just weeks after being considered – at the height of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street lockdown parties scandal – by many to be a prime minister-in-waiting.
.@RishiSunak's approval rating is at an all-time low.
> At the Budget in 2021 48% approved of the job he was doin, while 24% approved.
> Now, 35% disapprove of the job he is doing, while only 31% approve. pic.twitter.com/Y9CxYCOT5b— Opinium (@OpiniumResearch) March 26, 2022
But Sunak is facing growing criticism for his handling of the cost of living crisis.
Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis, considered one of the most trusted people in Britain, said his head “sank” after seeing Sunak’s “limited” plan on Wednesday.
And on Sunday, shadow work and pensions secretary Jon Ashworth accused Sunak of “acting in his own interest”, while pensioners have been “cutting back on hot meals” and “forgoing hot showers”.
Watch: Spring statement - key takeaways from Rishi Sunak's speech
He told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “Rishi Sunak absolutely had more room for manoeuvre in this spring statement and mini budget, but rather than acting in the interests of the British people, he was playing games.
“He was acting in his own interest because he thinks by offering an income tax cut in two years, that’ll help him politically with Conservative MPs if there’s a leadership contest or that’ll fit the Tory election grid.”
Read more: Boy, 14, fainted from hunger at foodbank - 'The cupboards at home were empty'
It’s in this climate that Sunak is reported by the Sunday Times to be considering proposals for a second council tax rebate to help ease the impact of soaring fuel bills.
The chancellor’s package of support already announced includes a £200 up-front rebate on energy bills from October – though this will have to be repaid over five years from 2023 – plus a £150 council tax rebate for homes in bands A to D from next month.
