The latest survey of Tory members suggests that there is very little support for those maverick MPs who want to change the party leader. Given four options, 87% of members chose an option which would see David Cameron continuing as leader. Only 8% thought David Cameron should resign or be challenged.
This puts the latest 42% dissatisfaction rating with David Cameron statistic in context. The dissatisfaction appears to be strategic and tactical rather than personal.
Members’ views on David Cameron and his strategy are summarised in the bullet points below:
IN SUMMARY: 48% WANT MUCH OF THE SAME AND 47% WANT SOME SORT OF CHANGE.
ConservativeHome columnist Stephan Shakespeare made the case for a change of strategy on Monday. Today – in the best political defence of Project Cameron I have ever read – fellow columnist Louise Bagshawe urges no serious change at all in strategy or tactics.
More worrying for David Cameron is the finding that a majority of members (52%) now think that it is unlikely that he will be Prime Minister after the
next election. In January 2006 77% thought he would be in Downing Street.
1,655 people completed the survey by noon yesterday including 1,152 Tory members.