Rishi Sunak’s popularity has plunged to its lowest point since taking office following his watering down of key climate pledges.
The prime minister’s net favourability rating has slumped to -45, according to a YouGov survey carried out days after his speech rowing back on net zero pledges.
The poll of more than 2,000 adults between 21 and 22 September showed the majority of Britons have an unfavourable view of Mr Sunak, rising from 67% in late August to 68%.
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Just 23% said they had a positive view of the prime minister, down from 26% over the summer, when his net favourability rating was -41.
While Mr Sunak may have been hoping to receive some benefit from his net zero U-turn – which he claimed would save families money – his reputation among Tory voters remains effectively unchanged (they continue to be divided on the party leader, by 48% to 47%) as well as with Labour voters (who continue to overwhelmingly dislike him, at 90%).
However, his popularity has particularly taken a hit among Lib Dems voters, with just 12% saying they have a favourable view – a drop of more than half since late August, when the figure was 25%.
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Mr Sunak’s unpopularity has not benefited Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer though, with 30% having a favourable view of him, a fall from 35% at the end of August.
A separate poll by IPSOS showed two-thirds of the public did not think the UK would meet its commitment to reach net zero by 2050, even before Mr Sunak made a raft of changes on how to get there.