Dramatic fall for Boris Johnson’s approval rating over Dominic Cummings scandal

Boris Johnson’s approval rating as Prime Minister has dramatically dipped as the Dominic Cummings scandal has unfolded.

According to data tracker Savanta, which is monitoring the UK population’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Johnson’s personal rating has dropped from +19% to -1% in four days.

The overall rating for the Government sits at -2%, dropping 16 points since yesterday.

The drop in ratings follows allegations that Mr Johnson’s aide broke lockdown rules by travelling from London to Durham with his wife and child.

Mr Cummings defended his actions in a televised press conference yesterday, and was backed by the PM in the daily Government briefings on Sunday and Monday.

But calls for his resignation remain, with widespread condemnation from experts, opposition parties and scientific experts.

Some Tory MPs have also called for the resignation of Mr Cummings, with Moray MP Douglas Ross quitting the Government this morning.

He said he could not “in good faith” tell his constituents who could not care for sick relatives or say goodbye to dying ones while obeying lockdown rules that Mr Cummings acted appropriately.

New in the @SavantaGroup / @SavantaComRes #covid19 daily tracker:

– Boris Johnson’s approval rating is now at -1%. It was at +19% four days ago.
– Overall government approval is now at -2%, dropping 16 points in a day.

More: https://t.co/5AzgxudsUl

— Chris Hopkins (@ChrisHopkins92) May 26, 2020

The approval rating is based on how people react to the question “From what you have seen or heard to what extent do you approve or disapprove of how each of the following public figures are handling the outbreak of COVID-19?”

England’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, has consistently polled the highest, alongside the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.

Mr Johnson’s rating has generally fluctuated between 30-50% throughout the crisis, but in the past two weeks has dropped to the mid-teens and now below zero.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has the second lowest rating at 4%.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sits at 12%.

New in the @SavantaGroup / @SavantaComRes #covid19 daily tracker:

– Boris Johnson’s approval rating is now at -1%. It was at +19% four days ago.
– Overall government approval is now at -2%, dropping 16 points in a day.

More: https://t.co/5AzgxudsUl

— Chris Hopkins (@ChrisHopkins92) May 26, 2020

The polling data comes as the number of deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK has passed 47,000.

The total includes new figures published on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics.

These figures show that 42,173 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in England and Wales up to May 15 (and had been registered up to May 23).

The latest figures from the National Records of Scotland, published last week, showed 3,546 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to May 17.

And the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, also published last week, showed 664 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Northern Ireland up to May 20.

Together these figures mean that so far 46,383 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.

A further 964 hospital patients in England who had tested positive for Covid-19 died between May 16 and May 24, according to figures published on Monday by NHS England – which, together with the total figure of 46,383 registered deaths, indicat

New in the @SavantaGroup / @SavantaComRes #covid19 daily tracker:

– Boris Johnson’s approval rating is now at -1%. It was at +19% four days ago.
– Overall government approval is now at -2%, dropping 16 points in a day.

More: https://t.co/5AzgxudsUl

— Chris Hopkins (@ChrisHopkins92) May 26, 2020

The approval rating is based on how people react to the question “From what you have seen or heard to what extent do you approve or disapprove of how each of the following public figures are handling the outbreak of COVID-19?”

England’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, has consistently polled the highest, alongside the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.

Mr Johnson’s rating has generally fluctuated between 30-50% throughout the crisis, but in the past two weeks has dropped to the mid-teens and now below zero.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has the second lowest rating at 4%.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sits at 12%.

New in the @SavantaGroup / @SavantaComRes #covid19 daily tracker:

– Boris Johnson’s approval rating is now at -1%. It was at +19% four days ago.
– Overall government approval is now at -2%, dropping 16 points in a day.

More: https://t.co/5AzgxudsUl

— Chris Hopkins (@ChrisHopkins92) May 26, 2020

The polling data comes as the number of deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK has passed 47,000.

The total includes new figures published on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics.

These figures show that 42,173 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in England and Wales up to May 15 (and had been registered up to May 23).

The latest figures from the National Records of Scotland, published last week, showed 3,546 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to May 17.

And the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, also published last week, showed 664 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Northern Ireland up to May 20.

Together these figures mean that so far 46,383 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.

A further 964 hospital patients in England who had tested positive for Covid-19 died between May 16 and May 24, according to figures published on Monday by NHS England – which, together with the total figure of 46,383 registered deaths, indicates the overall death toll for the UK is now just over 47,300.