Most Tory party members didn’t want Boris Johnson out of office, poll suggests

Conservative members have condemned MPs for effectively forcing Boris Johnson from office, as tensions continue to mount between the party and its grassroots voters.

According to a YouGov poll, 55 per cent of members believe it was wrong to oust the PM in July amid a dramatic spate of resignations.

Nearly half of them say they would vote for Mr Johnson if he was included on the leadership election ballot and many believe he would make a better leader than either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak.

The majority of respondents to the survey, which was carried out for Sky News, believe Mr Johnson would beat Sir Keir Starmer at a general election.

Last night, Tory donor and billionaire financier Lord Cruddas accused his party of ignoring members and said it was a ‘disgrace’ Mr Johnson was not on the ballot.

According to a YouGov poll, 55 per cent of members believe it was wrong to oust Boris Johnson (pictured) in July amid a dramatic spate of resignations

The peer, who orchestrated a ‘Boris ballot’ campaign which saw thousands call for the Prime Minister to be included, told the Daily Mail: ‘What this poll shows is that Conservative Party members want to keep Boris as their leader.

‘So why doesn’t the Conservative Party give their members a say over who they want as leader?’ 

He added: ‘Whoever wins between Truss and Sunak will never be able to say that they were the members’ choice because Boris was never on the ballot and the members have not been asked. It’s a disgrace.’

It comes after the Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, warned that Red Wall voters would punish the Conservatives at the next election for sidelining Mr Johnson.