Two-thirds of the public want Rishi Sunak to call a general election by the summer and cast their verdict on almost 14 years of Tory rule.

The poll for The Mirror shows 31% of people want the vote to take place "as soon as possible" while 19% said the spring and 16% opted for the summer. Mr Sunak's team has reportedly pencilled in November as a possible election date as the Tories desperately attempt to turn around the dire poll ratings. But just 9% of the public want an election in autumn and ever fewer (3%) said winter.

It comes as both Keir Starmer and Mr Sunak prepare to deliver New Year speeches - firing the gun on a historic year in British politics. In a message to the nation last week the Labour leader said 2024 must be the year "we get Britain's future back" and said the fate of the country will "rest in your hands".

The survey by Deltapoll for The Mirror also puts Mr Starmer's Labour 14 points ahead of the warring Tories - 42% compared 28%. The pollster said if the results were replicated at a general election, Labour could be on track for a 1997-style landslide victory with a majority of 142 seats.

In a brutal verdict on the Tories' record in office, a majority (62%) believe life has got worse in Britain since 2010, including more than half of those who voted Conservative in 2019. In another boost to Labour the poll shows Mr Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves with a clear lead over the PM and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on who would be best for the British economy - by 43% to 32%.

It also shows Labour ahead of the Tories on the vast majority of the major issues facing the country, including the cost-of-living crisis, the NHS, resolving strikes, the climate crisis, and tackling small boat crossings.

Labour's National Campaign Coordinator Pat McFadden told The Mirror: "After 14 years of failure to deliver for our country, the Tories are out of ideas, out of touch, and out of time. As our weak and desperate Prime Minister grasps at straws to try and save himself, this year the British people will have the opportunity to choose the future direction of our country. There is no point to five more months of the Tories let alone five more years. The country needs change and Labour stands ready to deliver that change.”

Co-founder and director of Deltapoll said: "Going into 2024 and what is almost certainly an election year, Deltapoll’s results set out clearly just quite how big the challenge is now facing the Conservatives. Not only do Labour lead on voting intention, they similarly lead the Conservatives on fundamentals such as leader ratings and economic management, but also across a host of different issues including dealing with small boats and the rights of women and girls.

"Since the Second World War, it has never been the case that a party has come from behind on leadership ratings and economic management to win the most seats at a general election. The Conservatives will hope the Budget in March will help bring about lasting change in their favour. Labour will be hoping for precisely the opposite."

Vast majority gloomy about UK's economic situation

The vast majority of people believe the UK's gloomy economic situation will get worse or remain stagnant over the next 12 months.
The finding will come as a blow to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt who boasted the economy had "turned a corner" after last year's Autumn Statement. It also follows grim figures released last month (DEC) showing the UK is at risk of a recession.

The poll for the Mirror finds 43% believe the economy will get worse in the coming year while 27% believe it will remain the same. Just over a quarter - 27% - say it will get better.

When voters were asked what should be the top government priority for the economy, an equal number - 24% - said growing the economy, and cutting inflation. Despite growing clamour from right-wing Tory MPs for the PM to cut taxes, just 12% listed this as a priority.

Cost-of-living most important problem facing families

Families believe the cost-of-living crisis and the NHS are the most important problems facing them, the poll shows. As Britain enters an election year, the two issues, which continue to dominate politics, rank far highest among voters' concerns.

Over six in ten - 63% - say the cost of living is the most pressing issue for their household while 41% said the NHS amid a record backlog and looming strikes. A further 31% also said the economy while 15% opted for immigration and asylum and 11% for the climate crisis and the environment.

The poll also shows almost four in 10 people (37%) believe their own household's financial situation will get worse in the coming year.
Just under 40% believe it would remain the same and 22% thought it would get better. Deltapoll interviewed 1,642 British adults online between 22nd and 29th December 2023. The data have been weighted to be representative of the British adult population as a whole.