Boris Johnson's lead among Conservative voters plummets following domestic row

Boris Johnson - Image credit: PA

Boris Johnson’s lead among Conservative voters has plummeted in the wake of a high-profile row with his partner.

Johnson’s 27-point lead was slashed to 11 when Tory voters were asked who would make the best prime minister, while rival Jeremy Hunt is now three points ahead among the general public.

Police were called to the home Johnson shares with his girlfriend Carrie Symonds on Friday morning after neighbours complained about a noisy altercation.

Johnson ducked questions about the row at a hustings on Saturday.

But a poll conducted for the Mail on Sunday suggests it has damaged his chances of seizing the Conservative leadership.

Polling carried out on Thursday before the incident saw 55 per cent of Conservative voters pick Johnson as the best prime minister, compared to 28 per cent for rival Hunt.

But a fresh poll carried out on Saturday shows a sharp drop in support, with 45 per cent of Tory voters saying Johnson would make the best PM, compared to 34 per cent for Hunt.

Among wider voters, 32 per cent said Hunt would make the country's best leader – three points ahead of Johnson on 29 per cent.

Johnson's score among the wider public has fallen seven points since Thursday, while Hunt's has climbed by four per cent.

However, a separate study for the Sunday Telegraph shows that Johnson continues to surge ahead with the party's grassroots.

According to pollster ComRes, 61 per cent of Conservative councillors back his leadership bid, compared to 39 per cent in favour of Hunt.