Theresa May hailed by voters as Cameron departs from No10, and Corbyn slumps to worst poll rating yet

Theresa May arriving for a cabinet meeting yesterday
Jeremy Selwyn
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Theresa May steps into power today as an exclusive poll showed her towering above Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

As she sat down to draw up her first Cabinet reshuffle, Mrs May was seen as having what it takes to be Britain’s new leader by a clear majority of the public, Ipsos MORI found.

She was closeted with her closest aides this morning to plan her first moves as the premier, leaving even senior Tory ministers out of her private inner circle.

Guidford MP Anne Milton is tipped to be chief whip, and Amber Rudd, the Energy Secretary, looks set for one of the great offices of state, possibly the Home Office.

Exit: David Cameron leaves 10 Downing Street to face Prime Minister's Questions for the last time as Prime Minister (Hannah McKay/PA Wire )
Hannah McKay/PA Wire

International Development Secretary Justine Greening is certain for a promotion, having been one of Ms May’s earliest backers. She may move to the Department for Education or Health.

She was expected to announce the top three names of her new Cabinet tonight after seeing the Queen to be appointed to form a new Government. Tight secrecy surrounded her decisions but close aides made clear that she wanted to promote women.

One MP said: “She could, if she chooses, get rid of some people who it might have been thought were not sackable.”

There was no word this morning on the future of George Osborne, the Chancellor, who is thought to have been lobbying to become Foreign Secretary.

The current Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, last night attended a British Bankers’ Association function, fuelling gossip that they would do a job swap.

Mrs May’s campaign manager and current Commons Leader Chris Grayling is also expected to get a major Cabinet post, probably heading a new unit to carry out the ultra-sensitive Brexit negotiations.

Mr Cameron is to make a speech on his time as Prime Minister
Jeremy Selwyn

Other women touted for top jobs include high-profile Brexiteer Priti Patel and Karen Bradley, who has worked with Ms May at the Home Office.

Mrs May’s stature, revealed by today’s poll, means she has maximum power to choose whom she likes.

Some 55 per cent, rising to 81 per cent of Conservatives, said she is prime ministerial material.

Her rating was four times higher than rival Andrea Leadsom among Conservative supporters, even before the energy minister crashed out of the leadership race on Monday, leaving little doubt that Mrs May had unbeatable support.

The Home Secretary’s ascendency contrasts with the fortunes of the leaders of the opposition parties too.

Embattled Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has slumped to his worst ratings yet. Almost two-thirds, 65 per cent, are dissatisfied with his performance, while just 24 per cent are happy. Even among Labour supporters more people are unhappy with Mr Corbyn than happy — a 48-45 split.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron elicits “don’t know” responses from four in 10 people, suggesting that he is making little impact with the public.

Despite gossip that former London Mayor Boris Johnson was regretting his decision to quit the Tory leadership battle, believing that he could have won, the survey suggests his support had crashed.

Only 21 per cent think he has what it takes to be PM, including just 23 per cent of Conservatives. Mrs Leadsom came lower still, with 18 per cent thinking she had the attributes, including a fifth of Tories.

In pictures: David Cameron's decade at the helm of the Conservative party

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Mr Cameron’s ratings are his worst, with just 28 per cent satisfied, revealing the damage caused to his reputation by the Brexit referendum.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI, said: “Theresa May’s honeymoon seems to have started even before she is officially announced as PM.”

Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,021 adults across Great Britain by phone from July 9–11, 2016. Data are weighted. Details at www.ipsos-mori.com.

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