Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are engaged in an intense race to the finish in UK’s biggest popularity contest.
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, the final two contenders to take charge as the next PM of UK are going all out with less than 1 month left to the result. In recent polls, the fight has become more intense with the lead changing on short time intervals.
Boris dominates surveys and polls
Boris Johnson, the favorite to become the next PM of the UK, is still leading, although with a comparatively shorter margin. Recent opinion poll trends are showing Jeremy Hunt’s popularity increasing from a certain defeat to even overtaking Johnson for a short span after the recent Johnson and his girlfriend’s spat.
Majority of people are betting on Johnson, but Jeremy Hunt is still hoping for a surprising outcome to the final poll. According to Financial Times, Boris currently have the support of 160 MPs while Jeremy is way behind with only 77 MPs support.
“Mr Johnson is the overwhelming favourite in the race. Mr Hunt only just managed to secure his place on the run-off ballot, eliminating environment secretary Michael Gove by a margin of only two votes” – Financial Times.
But the recent polls by a website named UK polls reports a different story. According to them Boris was leading in their Wednesday/ Thursday survey, but Hunt overtook him as the preferred PM by the public on Saturday.
Talking about the conservative voters, Boris is still leading with quite a good margin, but the popularity has decreased in this case too. This means Hunt is convincing the voters to change their opinion with an impressive rate.
Still maximum opinion polls and surveys concludes with Boris Johnson leading with a huge margin. The result will be declared in 4th week of July, and if we listen to what experts are predicting, only Boris Johnson can defeat Boris Johnson now.
Hunt’s negative campaigning, while Boris favorite to deliver Brexit
Boris has declared he would take UK out of the EU by Halloween “come what may, do or die” and has challenged his opponent to make the same commitment.
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke added: “Party members do not want to hear blue on blue attacks. What they want is a party leader that will get us out of the EU by October 31 and be able to beat Jeremy Corbyn in a General Election.
Zac Goldsmith blasted: “I’m disappointed to see Jeremy Hunt making personal attacks on Boris. It‘s hard to believe party members will be impressed either.”
Hunt on the other side has made more personal attacks on Boris, even called him coward for not agreeing for a debate. On the Brexit deal, Hunt targeted Boris for giving false deadline.
The battle is hotting up
Hunt made a statement that Boris Johnson can’t be trusted with Brexit deal.
Jeremy Hunt’s allies stooped to new low when they said Boris would be a security risk as a PM because of his complex private life.
Boris Johnson’s team criticized the personal attacks by Hunt. Top Brexiteer Rees-Mogg told The Sun: “Ad hominem attacks are usually ill advised.”
The battle between the two men is hotting up, but Boris favourability on issues like Brexit and endorsement by the President of the US, which is UK’s biggest ally, gives him an edge over Hunt in the race to 10, Downing Street.
By: Chitresh Sehgal, Senior Editor, Dkoding Media
