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New poll reveals what British public think of Liz Truss in one word

Liz Truss
The British public's opinion on Liz Truss makes grim reading for the prime minister. (PA)

New polling on what the British public think of Liz Truss will make grim reading for the new prime minister after just one month in the job.

In a survey conducted earlier this week, the most common word to describe Truss was ‘incompetent’, according to research by JL Partners.

A word cloud of answers shows a whole host of negative answers used when talking about the prime minister, following negative reactions to the tax-cutting mini-budget.

Brits also said the PM was ‘useless’, ‘untrustworthy’ and ‘clueless’.

‘Unreliable’ and ‘dangerous’ were also among the more common answers.

Britons say Liz Truss is 'incompetent' and 'useless'. (JL Partners)
Britons say Liz Truss is 'incompetent' and 'useless'. (JL Partners)
Polling before the mini-budget was more positive for Liz Truss. (JL Partners)
Polling before the mini-budget was more positive for Liz Truss. (JL Partners)

Worryingly for the PM, polling taken in the so-called Red Wall before the mini-budget painted a very different picture.

The most common words used to describe Truss at that point were ‘determined’ and ‘strong’, showing just how furious voters are with the measures in the mini-budget, that saw a cut to the 45p tax rate that would benefit higher earners.

The announcement included tax cuts costing a total of £45bn without details of how they would be funded, sending the value of the pound spiralling down and throwing the markets into turmoil.

Following days of criticism, chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a U-turn to the 45p measure this week, saying that the government had “listened”.

Watch: PM refuses to rule out future 45p tax cut

Labour have shot ahead in the polls as a result of the reaction.

However the JL Partners poll showed that ‘boring’ was the most common word used to describe leader Sir Keir Starmer.

‘Untrustworthy’ and ‘weak’ were also among the more common words used to describe Starmer, but more positive descriptions like ‘competent’ and ‘reliable’ also featured.

Britons have a more positive view of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer but the most common word used was 'boring'. (JL Partners)
Britons have a more positive view of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer but the most common word used was 'boring'. (JL Partners)

The PM faces a tough task restoring Tory morale after a conference which has seen the U-turn over the 45p tax policy, cabinet dissent and the threat of another major split over the level of benefits.

In her keynote speech Truss defended her “new approach” to “unleash the full potential of our great country”, in an attempt to settle the nerves of MPs and members.

The speech was interrupted by Greenpeace protesters brandishing a banner reading: "Who voted for this?".

Open warfare between Tory MPs appears to have broken out, with home secretary Suella Braverman saying she was “disappointed” by the chancellor and Truss’ mid-conference tax U-turn, and accusing Tory rebels like Michael Gove of staging a “coup”.

Prime Minister Liz Truss leaving the Hyatt hotel in Birmingham, during the Conservative Party annual conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. Picture date: Tuesday October 4, 2022.
Liz Truss' start to being prime minister has been a difficult one. (PA)

International trade secretary Kemi Badenoch criticised her cabinet colleague, saying: “I think that sort of a language is just too inflammatory.”

Meanwhile, foreign secretary James Cleverly insisted Truss will lead the Tory Party into the next election and said it was “ridiculous” for former transport secretary Grant Shapps to suggest she has 10 days to save her leadership.

“I like the fact that she says what she’s going to do and then does what she says,” Cleverly told BBC Breakfast.

He added: “She is delivering from day one on the things she said she would do because, as I say, she recognises that if you don’t go for growth you end up with either stagnation or recession and that is not what we want to do…

“If people are saying ‘oh hang on a second, we need to see the fruits of that in 10 days’, that is ridiculous.”