Boris Johnson ‘more popular than when he took office’ despite Brexit woes, according to new poll
2 min read
Boris Johnson is now more popular than when he first took office despite being hit by a series of setbacks on Brexit, according to a new poll.
The YouGov survey showed that 38% of voters now have a favourable view of him, compared to 54% with an unfavourable view.
That gives him a net score of -16, an improvement from the -21 he got at the time of the last poll in July, shortly before he took over from Theresa May.
In the two months since, Mr Johnson has lost six consecutive Commons votes, including two attempts to call a general elections.
He also saw MPs - including 21 rebel Tories - pass a law forcing him to seek an extension to the Brexit deadline if he can't reach a deal, and caused a constitutional crisis by suspending Parliament.
Mr Johnson's favourability ratings are also far better than Jeremy Corbyn, who has a net score of -49, unchanged from two months ago.
Among Conservative voters, the Prime Minister now has a favourability rating of +50, while among Leave supporters it is +46.
Unsurprisingly, he scores -75 with Remain voters.
Elsewhere, the poll also found that new Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson is now much more recognisable than she was, although her favourability score is -12.
However she is “substantially more popular among Remain voters than Jeremy Corbyn”, the firm said.
The Labour leader holds a net favourability score of -24 among those who voted to remain in the EU in 2016, while Ms Swinson is at +29 with the same group.
The survey comes after the Tories opened up a 14-point lead over Labour, with two polls last weekend putting them on 35% of the vote, with Labour at just 21%.
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