Changing Tory leader could result in even larger Labour landslide, new poll shows

Three out of the four Tory MPs seen as the most likely replacements for Rishi Sunak would fare even worse than the current prime minister in a general election battle against Keir Starmer, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.

The Conservatives have been involved in a fresh bout of leadership speculation over the past week, after rumours surfaced of a plot to dump Sunak and replace him with Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the House, before the next election.

Overall, when asked which party they intended to vote for, without citing current or potential leaders, Labour’s lead remained unchanged from a fortnight ago at 16 points.

The poll comes as Labour today claims that a clear majority of 2019 Tories (61%, according to its own polling) now support its plan for a new state run company, Great British Energy, which it says would secure the country’s energy independence and bring down prices.

Despite having recently abandoned their plans to spend £28bn a year on green investment, Starmer and shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband will this week promote the party’s scaled-back ideas on the latest of Starmer’s missions tours, focusing on its aim to turn the UK into a “clean energy superpower”.

Even their own voters know it is preposterous that the governments of other countries profit from our energy system while British families struggle with rising bills.”