Boris Johnson is more trusted to care for the NHS than Jeremy Corbyn, according to a poll for the Daily Mail.
Asked which leader had the best health policies, 36 per cent of voters said Mr Johnson while 34 per cent opted for Mr Corbyn.
In another blow to the Labour leader, nearly one in six supporters of his party are terrified at the thought of him becoming prime minister. And four in ten would be more likely to stick with Labour in the December 12 General Election if Mr Corbyn stood down.
Even Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson was seen as stronger, more statesmanlike and smarter than Mr Corbyn in the Survation poll of 1,010 voters.
The Labour leader yesterday used his last Commons clash with the Prime Minister before the election to accuse him of putting the NHS ‘up for grabs’ to secure a trade deal with the United States.
Mr Johnson dismissed the claims and said a Labour government would be an ‘economic catastrophe’.
The graphic above shows how UK voters back Prime Minister Boris Johnson over Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
Boris Johnson (pictured above) is more trusted to care for the NHS than Jeremy Corbyn, according to a poll for the Daily Mail today
Asked which leader had the best health policies, 36 per cent of voters said Mr Johnson while 34 per cent opted for Mr Corbyn (above)
Even Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson (pictured above) was seen as stronger, more statesmanlike and smarter than Mr Corbyn in the Survation poll of 1,010 voters
The election battle gets under way properly today, with Mr Johnson visiting a hospital in East Anglia in his drive to convince the public the NHS is safe in his hands. He will use this first campaign visit to accuse Mr Corbyn of thwarting his ‘do or die’ pledge to take Britain out of the EU on time.
Mr Johnson, who said he would rather be ‘dead in a ditch’ than delay Brexit beyond tonight, will acknowledge the deadline has been missed – but lay the blame on Labour.
In other electoral developments yesterday:
- Nicky Morgan and Amber Rudd both announced they were quitting as MPs, leading a growing exodus from Parliament of Tory Remainers;
- Mr Johnson is poised to make a substantial offer of free childcare in the Tory election manifesto;
- The Prime Minister was also poised to announce a moratorium on fracking;
- Mr Corbyn prepared to launch his campaign with a pledge to tackle the ‘corrupt system’ of tax dodgers and bad bosses;
- Labour was accused of risking the break-up of Britain by saying it wouldn’t block a second Scottish independence referendum;
- The Lib Dems were in talks with the Greens and Plaid Cymru over a Remain pact;
- Nigel Farage suggested his Brexit Party will target Labour Leave seats;
- Dominic Grieve and Antoinette Sandbach said they would stand as independents in their current seats – against Tory candidates;
- Mr Corbyn challenged Mr Johnson to a TV debate during the campaign.
Today’s poll suggests that Mr Johnson’s decision to make the NHS a top priority since entering No 10 is paying off. As well as being ahead on the NHS, the Prime Minister is 18 points ahead on jobs, a key issue for working-class voters.
Mr Johnson is streets ahead on the economy, defence, trade and foreign relations. The only issue where Mr Corbyn is in the lead is welfare.
The Tories have 34 per cent support overall, eight points ahead of Labour on 26, with the Lib Dems on 19 and the Brexit Party on 12.
That would be enough to give the Prime Minister a slim Commons majority.
According to those surveyed, Mr Johnson’s poll advantage could increase over the six-week contest. A total of 44 per cent say he is the best campaigner, with Mr Corbyn on 21 and Miss Swinson on ten. Asked who would be the best PM, Mr Johnson scores 42 and Mr Corbyn 19, only four ahead of Swinson on 15.
Nicky Morgan (left) and Amber Rudd (right) both announced that they were quitting as MPs Parliament, leading a growing exodus from Parliament of Tory Remainers
And in an encouraging sign for Mr Johnson’s attempt to squeeze the Brexit vote, support for Mr Farage’s party continues to fall. It is now barely half the level it was before Mr Johnson entered No 10. In the same period, Tory support has steadily risen, suggesting Conservatives who switched to the Brexit Party when Theresa May was leader are returning to the fold.
The figures provide further evidence that Mr Corbyn’s fence-sitting on Brexit could see Labour support haemorrhage to the fervently anti-Brexit Lib Dems.
Mr Johnson’s Brexit stance is favoured by 41 per cent; Remainer Miss Swinson is on 23 with Mr Corbyn on a meagre 15.
A total of 42 per cent of Labour supporters say they would be more likely to vote for the party if Mr Corbyn stepped down; 18 per cent say they would be less likely to vote Labour.
Nigel Farage (pictured above) suggested that the Brexit Party will target Labour Leave seats – which could still cost the Tories an election win
Dominic Grieve (left) and Antoinette Sandbach (right) said they would stand as independents in their current seats – against Tory candidates
Nor were voters convinced by Mr Corbyn’s excuses for initially holding out against a December election.
Nearly half say he did so because he was scared of losing; 30 per cent say it was to avoid No Deal; just 9 per cent believed him when he said it would be too cold to vote.
More than half of voters (51 per cent) say Mr Johnson is right to have called a poll.
Astonishingly, 15 per cent of Labour voters will feel ‘fear’ if Mr Corbyn triumphs on December 12; 58 per cent will be ‘joyful.’ Similarly, one in ten Labour voters will feel ‘joy’ if Mr Johnson is victorious; 73 per cent will be ‘fearful’.
The Conservative lead extends across the parties’ front benches. Chancellor Sajid Javid, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab are all more popular than Labour counterparts John McDonnell, Diane Abbott and Emily Thornberry.
A total of 44 per cent blame Parliament for forcing the Prime Minister to break his ‘die in a ditch’ pledge to leave the EU by today; 32 per cent point the finger at Mr Johnson himself; 11 per cent blame Brussels.
Survation interviewed 1,010 adults online on Tuesday and yesterday after all four main parties backed a December election.