Rishi Sunak must end war on motorists to save election chances, poll shows

RISHI Sunak must end the war on motorists to hold together the “coalition” of voters which won the 2019 election, a poll shows.

The Brexiteers and Red Wall voters who backed Boris Johnson could coalesce around a blitz on costly green policies.

The PM has retained the support of only half of those who turned out for the party four years ago, the poll reveals — with backing among Leave voters down from 75 per cent to 40.

Yet both they and the Red Wallers support our Give Us a Brake campaign, which urges no more Ultra Low Emission Zones (Ulez), a delay to the ban on new diesel and petrol cars and no Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods where the public objects.

Objections to Ulez expansion across the capital helped the Tories win the Uxbridge by-election in West London in July.

People Polling found 64 per cent of Tories and 56 per cent of Brexit voters do not want similar schemes where they live.

Overall, 54 per cent rate cutting the cost of living above green issues, even if it means doing less to hit net zero.

Working class Brits and older voters were more likely to hold this view.

Matthew Goodwin, of People Polling, said: “Rishi Sunak urgently needs to find a way of mobilising the people who voted for Boris Johnson.

“Declaring war on the cost of living crisis by rolling back net zero initiatives . . . would be a good start.”

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: “Uxbridge wasn’t just about Ulez, it’s about the wider issue of this whole net zero religion which is being rammed on us.

“The coalition of people we’re aiming at is small, but the window to get us there is reopening.”

Fellow Tory Craig Mackinlay said: “Conservative election strategists need to deliver what the electorate are demanding.”