Will supermajority fears save Tories? 38% cent of 2019 Conservative supporters likely to back party to ensure it survives

More than a third of people who voted Conservative in 2019 say they are more likely to stick with the party this time over concerns about a Labour supermajority.

A poll by Lord Ashcroft found that 38 per cent of former Tory voters said the prospect of a big Labour majority makes them more inclined to back them again 'to ensure the Conservative Party survives and there is a proper opposition'.

Among them, one in six of those planning to vote Reform say fears of a Labour supermajority have made them more likely to return to the Tory fold.

Some 35 per cent of undecided voters who voted Tory in 2019 also say they are now considering backing the Conservatives again.

The findings will give fresh impetus to Tory efforts to persuade disaffected former supporters to return and head off the prospect of a Labour landslide next week.

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride yesterday said he was 'extremely worried' about the prospect of a 'totally unrestrained' Labour government with a 'massive majority, which is what we appear to be heading towards, with very little opposition in Parliament'.

He added: 'I would just say to people on that score that I think it's really important that we think very carefully about holding Labour to account, if they are to win this coming General Election, and that people do vote Conservative so that we have a decent opposition at least to an overweening Labour Party.'

However, Lord Ashcroft found that 42 per cent of 2019 Conservative backers say the idea of a supermajority will make 'no difference' to their vote this time, while 13 per cent believe the Tories are going to lose badly so they 'might as well vote for another party'.

The survey found that 73 per cent of voters now think Labour will win a majority, with 51 per cent predicting a landslide.

The poll found a slight tightening of the overall standings, with Labour down three points on the previous week on 40 per cent, the Conservatives up one on 19, Reform down one on 17, the Lib Dems up one on 10 per cent and the Greens up two on 9 per cent.

It also uncovered concerns about Labour's plans for the 'strategic' release of green belt land for house building.

Some 61 per cent of people said the green belt should be protected 'even if that means we end up building fewer houses overall', while just 28 per cent said 'urgent' housing needs should come first.

Labour's manifesto states that the party will 'preserve' the green belt but says it will allow the release of some land for housing on a 'strategic' basis. Labour has also said it will redesignate some low quality land as 'grey belt'.

Sir Keir Starmer last week denied claims by a Labour source that the party was ready to 'flatten the whole green belt' to build more houses.

The new poll also found that Rachel Reeves is now Britain's 'least unpopular' politician. Ms Reeves, who hopes to become Britain's first female chancellor if Labour win next week, had the highest satisfaction rating of any leading politician in a survey carried out by Lord Ashcroft Polling.

But, in a sign of public disillusionment with mainstream politics, the survey found no figure currently enjoys a positive rating.

Ms Reeves topped the poll with a net satisfaction rating of -1, well ahead of Sir Keir on -14 and her counterpart Jeremy Hunt on -36.

The Shadow Chancellor has risen to prominence by promising to impose fiscal discipline on Labour's plans. Writing in the Mail, Lord Ashcroft said she now appeared to be Britain's 'least unpopular' politician but added: 'We'll see whether those numbers survive her first Budget.'

In a bleak finding for the Tories, Rishi Sunak came bottom, with a net satisfaction rating of -50.

The highest ranked well-known Tory politician was Commons leader Penny Mordaunt on -12. Security minister Tom Tugendhat rated higher on -5, but two-thirds of voters said they did not know enough about him to judge.

Both Ms Mordaunt and Mr Tugendhat are expected to stand in the race to succeed Mr Sunak as Tory leader if the Conservatives lose the election – and they manage to hold their seats.

 Nigel Farage was languishing on a satisfaction rating of -31.

The poll found 24 per cent of voters (and 46 per cent of Tory voters) were interested in the idea of the Reform leader and 'would consider' voting for him.

A further 16 per cent said they would not vote for him but liked to see the main parties challenged. But in a sign that his overall appeal is limited, 49 per cent said they did not like him and wished he and his party 'weren't part of British politics'