It is the trend in TMay’s YouGov “best PM” ratings that should really worry the Tories
The miniscule lead with YouGov that Corbyn now enjoys as “best PM” is not what should concern her party but the trend which is illustrated in my chart above.
It all peaked in the first polling after she made the brave, and in retrospect disastrous, decision in April to go for a general election three years ahead of schedule. Then she was a walloping 39% ahead.
As can be seen this has moved steadily downwards ever since and now she is behind.
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The election campaign exposed her weaknesses to such an extent that it is hard to see how she can recover.
Her attempt to avoid media scrutiny and the manner she merely repeated platitudes when pressed on key issues didn’t go down well. Not taking part in a leaders’ debate was a mistake as was avoiding programmes like Woman’s Hour.
My view is that TMay was not helped by the manner of her election as CON leader last July. If she had secured the post by going through the Tory members ballot her campaigning skills would have been enhanced and she’d have been better able to cope with the scrutiny of a general election campaign.
Andrea Leadsom pulling out after the race had been reduced to the final two in the MP ballots was bad news for her.
Her now poor leader ratings are going to be used against her even assuming that she gets through next week’s Queen’s Speech vote.
Will she survive? It is becoming less likely.