Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer make Line of Duty references

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

This week their lead increased to 14 points in the new survey, from a previous lead of seven points. The poll for The Times put the Conservatives on 43 percent ahead of Labour on 29 percent. The Greens and the Lib Dems appear to be scooping up votes from voters sceptical of Keir Starmer’s leadership.

Both parties were put on eight percent of the vote, each up by two percent.

Support for the Labour leader fell by three points in a week, as 26 percent said they would like to see him in Number 10.

Satisfaction levels with Labour have plummeted to lower than the figures reported when Jeremy Corbyn was at the helm.

Writing in The Times, Patrick Maguire said of the results: “That is not only YouGov’s clearest Tory lead of the year, the 50th in a row recorded by all pollsters, but it pegs Labour as less popular than they were under Jeremy Corbyn.

“Some in Keir Starmer’s team will inevitably say: ‘So what?’

“The Labour leader, after all, has been the one talking up the prospect of a vaccine bounce for the Government.”

Thirty-four percent backed Mr Johnson to lead the country, a drop of one percentage point.

The Prime Minister’s standing has been boosted by the fast and efficient rollout of the Covid inoculation programme.

So far, 32.4 million people in the UK have been given the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

The number fully inoculated has exceeded 8.5 million.

But amid the enthusiasm over the rollout, there are fears of another surge in infections.

DON’T MISS
Boris treats himself to weekend break away during Philip’s funeral [ANALYSIS]
Ireland fumed at Frost over Brexit: UK reputation ‘damaged’ [REACTION]
Macron ally taunts Boris on fishing – issues Brexit deal ultimatum [INSIGHT]

Public Health England reported that 73 cases of the B.1.617 variant, which was first detected in India, have been confirmed in England.

Four cases of the variant have been detected in Scotland.

The discovery features two mutations that could be a cause for concern, an expert has said.

Officials have designated it a variant under investigation.

Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the variant featured two “escape mutations” – E484Q and L452R – that “are causing people to be concerned”.

He added: “There’s laboratory evidence that both of these are escape mutations.

“Basically, applying what we know about other human coronaviruses would suggest that this is going to be even less controlled by vaccine.

“But we don’t know that for certain at the moment.”

The poll was conducted from April 13 to 14, with a total of 1,689 voters taking part. The results were compared to a similar poll conducted from April 7 to 8.

Source: Read Full Article