Boris shrugs off girlfriend row to stay on course for Number 10, shows new poll

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt leave 10 Downing Street, London, January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
Next for Number 10? Boris Johnson is still way ahead of Jeremy Hunt to reach Number 10 (Reuters)

Boris Johnson is still the firm favourite to become Prime Minister despite a bruising week in the Conservative leadership campaign.

Two-thirds of Tory party members - 65.52% - back Johnson for Number 10, according to the latest poll from Conservative Home.

Jeremy Hunt has closed the gap, but is still way back, polling at 30%.

Previously, Hunt was on 11%, a long way back from Johnson - but he is still seemingly too far back with Conservative party members to become PM.

Boris Johnson, a leadership candidate for Britain's Conservative Party, poses for a selfie in Oxshott, Surrey, Britain, June 25, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
Boris Johnson with a supporter in Oxshott, Surrey (REUTERS/Peter Nicholls)

The poll is a boost for Johnson who has suffered a poor week in the spotlight, after police were called to his girlfriend’s home following an apparent row with the would-be prime minister.

During the apparent altercation, The Guardian newspaper reported that Johnson could allegedly be heard saying "get off my f****** laptop" before a loud crashing noise.

Carrie Symonds, his girlfriend, could be heard telling him to "get off me" and "get out of my flat", the newspaper reported.

Conservative Party leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt waves as he leaves his home in London, Britain, June 26, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville
Waving goodbye to number 10? Jeremy Hunt out campaigning this week. (REUTERS/Toby Melville)

He was also accused by Hunt of being a “coward” for ducking policy debates.

But it all seems to have made little difference.

“Johnson’s vote may only have improved by three per cent from 62 per cent, compared to Hunt’s rise of 19 per cent from 11 per cent – but he still leads the Foreign Secretary by a whacking 36 points,” said Conservative Home.

“Johnson now has two-thirds of the total vote, 66 per cent, and remains set to win this election.

“As we suspected on Tuesday, his domestic row seems to have made next to no difference to his standing among activists.”

It had been suggested that Johnson’s approval ratings had suffered in the wake of the domestic disturbance.

One poll even put him behind Hunt.

However, a Sunday Telegraph-commissioned ComRes poll at the weekend, said Johnson had a 22-point lead.

However, more than half of Scottish voters would vote to leave the UK if Boris Johnson becomes prime minister, another poll suggested.

Boris Johnson, a leadership candidate for Britain's Conservative Party, and Britain's former Brexit Minister Dominic Raab visit a pub in Oxshott, Surrey, Britain, June 25, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
Johnson has the backing of failed leadership candidate and former Brexit Minister Dominic Raab (REUTERS/Peter Nicholls)

Hunt now has some three weeks to try and claw back the almost 36% deficit.

The new leader will be named on July 22.

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