Women are deserting Boris: Poll shows two thirds of all voters don't trust the PM and one in three is less likely to follow Plan B rules after party row as Tory support falls to 33%
Women voters are deserting Boris Johnson as the Conservatives sink to their worst poll rating in more than two years.
A survey for the Daily Mail today reveals that a third of the public are now less likely to follow Covid rules in the wake of the Downing Street Christmas party row.
Worryingly for the Prime Minister, two in three people said they do not trust him.
Among female voters, Labour's lead has grown from six points to 14 points in just the past few days. It is now on 45 per cent – compared to the Tories who fell by four points to 31 per cent.
The Savanta ComRes poll found a dramatic change in the past week as Mr Johnson has battled with claims of lockdown-busting parties in No 10 and imposed new restrictions in response to the Omicron variant.
Support for the Tories has dropped five points since last weekend to 33 per cent. This is their lowest since October 2019.
Women voters are deserting Boris Johnson as the Conservatives sink to their worst poll rating in more than two years. A survey for the Daily Mail today reveals that a third of the public are now less likely to follow Covid rules in the wake of the Downing Street Christmas party row
One in seven (14 per cent) of voters who backed the party at the last election now say they are undecided, while 6 per cent have switched to Labour.
Sir Keir Starmer's party, which had been one point behind the Tories in a poll conducted by Savanta ComRes last weekend, is now six points ahead after it rose two points to 39 per cent.
Worryingly for the Prime Minister, two in three people said they do not trust him
The parties are almost neck-and-neck when it comes to male voters, with the Tories on 35 per cent and Labour on 34 per cent.
According to the survey, many voters are concerned about Mr Johnson's integrity. Two-thirds (66 per cent) said they do not trust him – more than double the proportion who say they do (31 per cent).
Nearly one in three (32 per cent) said they are less likely to abide by coronavirus restrictions after claims emerged that a Christmas party was held in No 10 last year.
The festive bash on December 18, which allegedly involved staff and aides drinking alcohol, eating cheese and swapping secret Santa presents, was in breach of lockdown rules in place in London.
Indoor gatherings were not allowed at the time. Some 68 per cent think Downing Street staff who attended the gathering should be sacked.
As ministers consider plunging the country into further lockdown measures, the poll found the public are against shutting down hospitality venues and stopping people from seeing family members.
Around half (49 per cent) said they were opposed to closing pubs and restaurants with 31 per cent in favour.
There was similar resistance to the idea of banning people from meeting other households indoors, with 47 per cent against and 30 per cent in favour.
However, more than half (54 per cent) said they would support the Government introducing limits on the number of people who can attend indoor gatherings as well as banning international travel (54 per cent).
Among female voters, Labour's lead has grown from six points to 14 points in just the past few days. It is now on 45 per cent – compared to the Tories who fell by four points to 31 per cent. The Savanta ComRes poll found a dramatic change in the past week as Mr Johnson has battled with claims of lockdown-busting parties in No 10 and imposed new restrictions in response to the Omicron variant
According to the survey, many voters are concerned about Mr Johnson's integrity. Two-thirds (66 per cent) said they do not trust him – more than double the proportion who say they do (31 per cent). Above, outside Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrated a sweeping election victory in 2019
One in seven (14 per cent) of voters who backed the party at the last election now say they are undecided, while 6 per cent have switched to Labour. Sir Keir Starmer's party, which had been one point behind the Tories in a poll conducted by Savanta ComRes last weekend, is now six points ahead after it rose two points to 39 per centAnd a majority (56 per cent) support giving Covid jabs to children aged five to 11. Chris Hopkins, associate director of Savanta ComRes, said that the results showed that the Downing Street party row 'has cut through to the electorate' and 'caused a shift' in the polls.
However, he said it still 'does not appear that 2019 Conservative voters are abandoning the party en masse'.
Mr Hopkins added: 'While we are seeing lower than usual loyalty from those who voted Conservative last time, they're not all switching to Labour, and are more likely than ever to just be undecided.
'These voters, of course, are easier to win back than those who have switched allegiances. Labour, frankly, aren't all that popular either, and in any case this six-point lead is unlikely to be enough to allow Labour to govern alone if an election were tomorrow.'
Mr Hopkins said: 'The Conservatives and their well-oiled electioneering machine may well already be dusting off 2015-era 'vote Labour, get Sturgeon' leaflets, with Labour likely to need a much bigger poll lead than this to be able to govern without SNP support at the next election.'
Savanta ComRes interviewed 2,118 UK adults online between December 8 and yesterday.
explanations that just did not stack up
Nov 30: After story about first Downing Street party breaks, No 10 spokesman says: 'Covid rules have been followed at all times.'
Dec 1: Health Secretary Sajid Javid tells LBC: 'I didn't attend. I don't know who attended these parties, but I don't even think there were parties that I'm aware of. But the point is, whether it's in No10 or any government department, all rules would have been followed at all times.'
At a Downing Street press briefing, the PM's spokesman denies there was a party and says: 'We don't recognise these accounts.'
At PMQs, Boris Johnson insists: 'All guidance was followed completely in Number 10.'
Dec 2: Mr Johnson refuses to give reporters further details 'because I have told you [what happened]'.
Dec 3: Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup tells BBC's Question Time that 'all guidance was followed', dismisses the reports as 'rumour and hearsay', and says she wasn't aware of a party.
Dec 5: Justice Secretary Dominic Raab insists the rules were followed, but tells the BBC's Andrew Marr: 'Of course, if there was a formal party held, of course that it something that is clearly contrary to the guidance. If anyone held a party that is contrary to the rules, of course that is the wrong thing to do.'
Dec 6: The PM's spokesman reiterates the Government's denial, saying: 'There was not a party and Covid rules have been followed at all times.'
Policing Minister Kit Malthouse tells LBC: 'Officials at No 10 have assured me, as part of my briefing... that no regulations were broken.'
Dec 8: Mr Johnson tells PMQs: 'I repeat... that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged, that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken.'
Dec 9: Mr Javid on LBC: 'I have received assurances that there were no [Covid] rules that were broken at any time in Downing Street. That means a party could not take place. If the rules were not broken, then a party could not take place.'
Top spin doctor in Xmas row has full confidence of the PM
By HARRIET LINE for the Daily Mail
Boris Johnson was last night standing by his top spin doctor despite claims he attended a lockdown-busting Christmas party in No 10 last year.
Downing Street said the PM has 'full confidence' in his director of communications, Jack Doyle, and that he remained in post.
Last night it was reported that Mr Doyle offered to quit but Mr Johnson refused to accept his resignation.
Mr Doyle, a former Daily Mail journalist, is alleged to have 'made a thank-you speech and handed out awards' at the controversial bash on December 18.
Boris Johnson was last night standing by his top spin doctor despite claims he attended a lockdown-busting Christmas party in No 10 last year. Downing Street said the PM has 'full confidence' in his director of communications, Jack Doyle (above), and that he remained in postUp to 50 staff are said to have attended the 'boozy' party, at which revellers reportedly drank past midnight and exchanged Secret Santa gifts.
But an insider said the then-deputy communications director had made a short speech to press office staff that evening to thank them for their work responding to the pandemic.
He was said to have spent most of the evening locked in Covid meetings with ministers and officials preparing for the 'Tier Four' announcement the following day.
Mr Johnson's former aide Dominic Cummings – who left Downing Street weeks before the alleged party following a behind-the-scenes power struggle – yesterday tweeted that Mr Doyle was 'a gonner' but that he would remain in post until the conclusion of Cabinet Secretary Simon Case's inquiry into the parties.
He wrote on Twitter: 'Jack D is gonner but [the PM] will be thinking, 'not now, gotta keep him as the sacrifice for Case's inquiry then – I'm shocked shocked I tell you to discover there was a party and I was misled - do a deal with Jack to keep all the wallpaper horror buried...'
He also claimed there would be 'lots of pictures of the parties which will inevitably get out'.
Mr Cummings also tried to rubbish claims the PM would not have known about the parties inside No10.
Senior Tory MP Sir John Redwood yesterday urged Mr Johnson to speed up the report into the alleged parties and 'take action' against anyone who broke the rules.
He wrote on Twitter: 'The PM must speed the report into parties by officials at No 10.
'He must take action against any who broke the covid rules as they were the rule makers telling the rest of us to obey. Time to work closely with a slimmed down team he trusts.'
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