PM told by voters he's 'dead like a dodo' ahead of by-elections

Rishi Sunak told by voters he’s ‘dead like a dodo’ while others compare him to ‘snake’ and a ‘mouse’ as PM faces triple by-election blow

• The Conservatives are fearing a triple defeat at crunch by-elections on 20 July

Voters have branded Rishi Sunak ‘dead like a dodo’ as they delivered a damning verdict on the Prime Minister ahead of crunch by-elections this month.

The Tories are attempting to cling onto seats in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Selby and Ainsty, and Somerton and Frome on 20 July.

But the party are fearing a triple defeat at a time when their national poll ratings continue to lag far behind Labour.

There are also concerns that the public are turning against multi-millionaire Mr Sunak during the cost-of-living crisis.

The Sunday Times reported that focus groups conducted by the More in Common campaign group had delivered a withering judgement on the PM.

Voters were said to have compared Mr Sunak to a ‘snake’, a ‘little mouse’ and a ‘dodo’ in the research.

There are concerns that the public are turning against multi-millionaire Rishi Sunak during the cost-of-living crisis

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, pictured with the party’s Selby and Ainsty by-election candidate Keir Mather, is hoping for success on 20 July

A video of a focus group session showed participants’ answers when asked to compare Mr Sunak to an animal. 

Craig, 39, a software tester from Selby, said: ‘I’d probably say a dodo for Rishi, because he’s pretty much dead to me like a dodo.’

Min, a 42-year-old swimming teacher from Uxbridge, was one of three voters to compare the PM to a snake.

‘He’s just not a genuine person,’ she said. ‘I don’t think he knows what he’s doing.’

Ann, 72, from Selby, said: ‘He is a little mouse to look at. I hate seeing him alongside other statesmen because he looks so tiny.’

Coreta, 47, a manager from Somerton, branded the PM ‘a weak dog’.

Voters compared Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to a cat, a dog, a wolf, a horse, and a blue whale.

Charlotte, 24, a logistics manager, said Sir Keir was ‘trying to come across as this strong, rescuing figure but really is just galloping around everywhere’.

It came amid claims that the Tories could also be facing one of the worse election defeats in history when voters are asked to choose a replacement MP for Nadine Dorries, who has also vowed to quit Parliament, in Mid Bedfordshire. 

The Sun on Sunday reported polling shared with Tory MPs found just 11 per cent of locals definitely plan to vote Conservative at the next election.

One Tory MP who has seen the polling told the newspaper: ‘It is beyond bad – it looks like it will be a total bloodbath.’ 

Luke Tryl, a former Tory adviser who conducted the focus groups for More in Common, said: ‘These were by far the worst set of groups we’ve done on impressions of Rishi Sunak.

‘Whereas previously people have been willing to give him some benefit of the doubt, and usually fell back on the fact that even if he’s out of touch he’s competent and the best person to clear up the mess from Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, things have shifted.

‘The cost-of-living crisis being compounded with the mortgage crisis has exacerbated Sunak’s personal weaknesses.’

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