Conservatives take five-point poll lead in wake of Syria bombing row
2 min read
The Conservatives have opened up a five-point lead over Labour following the row over Theresa May's decision to authorise military action in Syria.
A YouGov poll for The Times puts support for the Tories on 43%, up three points in a week. Labour are down two points on 38%.
The survey of 1,631 adults across the UK was taken on Monday and Tuesday, at the height of the controversy over the bombing.
It also showed that defence and security had risen by five points as a topic of concern to voters, behind Brexit and health and immigration.
The Prime Minister angered many by giving the green light to RAF fighter jets joining raids by American and French pilots on chemical weapons facilities controlled by Syrian leader, Bashar-al Assad.
That followed the alleged attack by the Assad regime on the rebel-held city of Douma in Eastern Ghouta, which led to the deaths of up to 75 civilians.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has questioned the legality of the military action, which he says should not have taken place with the approval of MPs and the United Nations.
Mrs May's personal ratings have also improved, according to the poll.
Some 39 per cent of voters said the Tory leader would make the best Prime Minister, up twp points, with Mr Corbyn down a point on 25 per cent.
However, the poll took place before the controversy over the plight of the Windrush generation, who have been faced with threats of deportation despite living in the UK for decades, reached its peak.
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