Rishi Sunak must deal with inflation, immigration and NHS crisis in 2023, major poll finds

RISHI Sunak must stop the Channel boats crisis and cut inflation and NHS waiting times if they want to win back Tory support, a major poll has found.

But confidence in the Government to fix these issues is at rock bottom after an astonishing year of civil war and three PMs in Westminster.

Most voters also think the Government has failed to stand up for British values like freedom of speech, the Policy Exchange survey found.

Senior Tory MPs said Mr Sunak faces a “crunch 2023” as he scrambles to win back the trust of voters before the next election — expected at the end of 2024.

Recent polls have predicted a Conservative bloodbath at the ballot box — but the PM is coming out fighting against the gloomy predictions by launching a New Year “get tough” offensive.

He will unveil laws to crack down on illegal immigration and trade unions within weeks.

Overall, both Tory and Labour voters surveyed said that fixing the NHS crisis and getting eye-watering inflation under control are their top priorities for No10.

Just under half (48 per cent) said these were their biggest concerns.

But among voter who backed the Conservatives in 2019, the highest priority was stopping small boats crossing the Channel.

Just over half (53 per cent) want tougher action — although many Labour voters actively oppose this.

More than 40,000 migrants have arrived in Britain on dinghies this year alone.

More than a third of Brits (38 per cent) said building more wind, solar and nuclear power plants is one of their top three priorities.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent gas prices soaring and left many families unable to afford to put their heating on.

Meanwhile, more than a quarter of Brits (26 per cent) said cutting the sky-high tax burden should be a priority.

Workers in the UK are now clobbered with the biggest tax burden since the aftermath of World War Two.

But while many people think levies are too high, the survey found they overwhelmingly oppose cuts to the NHS, schools or the police.

Instead, they want to slash spending by cancelling the HS2 rail project and cutting “woke” equality and diversity initiatives and foreign aid.

Nearly half (46 per cent) of voters said HS2 — which is running billions of pounds over budget and could ultimately cost £106billion — should be axed.

The same number said our bloated foreign aid budget should be trimmed.

And a third of Brits (31 per cent) back slashing spending on taxpayer-funded equality and diversity projects.

Team Rishi are scrambling to win back public support after Partygate and Liz Truss’ disastrous reign took a sledgehammer to Tory support.

They have vowed to turn things around by focusing on three areas — cutting sky-high inflation, getting tough on illegal immigration and cracking down on trade unions.

But in a major blow for No10, the survey also revealed public confidence in the Government’s ability to improve lives has been shattered.

Only one in eight (13 per cent) said the Government has a clear sense of purpose.

This is dwarfed by the 63 per cent who disagree

Quizzed on their views of the Government’s track record since the 2019 election, the view was overwhelmingly negative.

Asked what they thought the Government had done well, by far the most common answer was “Nothing”.

“Covid” was next — but with a small response — followed by “Brexit”.

In another blow to No10, just 15 per cent of voters said they think the Government is defending British values like free speech.

Far more — 55 per cent — disagreed with the statement.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said the Conservative Party will win only if they deliver this year — rather than just talking tough.

He said: “The last year has witnessed perhaps the biggest fall from grace of any government in modern times.

“We, the Conservative Party and government, need to reverse the damage done.”

Iain Mansfield, research director at Policy Exchange, which carried out the poll of 1,431 adults, said the time for talk has ended, that Brits want action.

He said: “We are used to hearing our society is polarised and divided. This polling shows that on the two dominant issues — the cost of living and the NHS — that is not true. Across all demographics, the public is united in saying that these must be improved.

“The Government must demonstrate progress here if it hopes to win the next election.

“Alongside this, it is clear that stopping the small boats crossing the Channel would do a lot to win back the support of those who voted Conservative in 2019.”

On calls to cut foreign aid, diversity officers and HS2, he added: “The Government should take on the vested interests in these areas and make the cuts, freeing up much-needed funds for tax cuts, public services or reducing the deficit.”

Tory big beast Simon Clarke, the former Levelling Up Secretary, said: “After the turmoil of the pandemic and the drama of last autumn, people want us to deliver.

“They know Labour don’t have any answers, but they need us to prove we can maintain the discipline needed to bring inflation down, support the NHS but challenge its failures too, and above all else bring our border back under control — whatever it takes to do so. If we do this, we will win in 2024 because we will have done what people want.”

Mr Duncan Smith admitted many voters have “lost faith” in the Tories after tough talk on issues was not acted on.

He said: “Our economy has hit the buffers. Strikes have erupted on our railways and in our hospitals. Schools look to be next. Downing Street needs to act boldly to show it has got a grip.”

Mr Sunak must urgently kick-start growth and curb inflation so he can slash taxes before the next election, he added.