Support for Theresa May grows despite government chaos - poll

Agnes Chambre

Support for Theresa May has increased in recent days despite the chaos engulfing her government.



Some 34% of voters would prefer Mrs May as prime minister, up 1% from a month ago, according to a newly conducted YouGov poll.

Jeremy Corbyn is on 31% - down 2% from a month ago35% said they were not sure.

Although Mr Corbyn’s rating is slightly down, Labour’s popularity went up 1% and is now on 43%.

The Tories remained on 40% and the Lib Dems went down 2% to just 6%.

However the poll was conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, just before Priti Patel was sacked as International Development Secretary for holding secret meetings with Israeli officials.

It came days after Michael Fallon resigned as Defence Secretary after being accused of being sexually inappropriate with a number of women.

The Government has also been rocked after a gaffe by Boris Johnson left British national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe at risk of serving five more years in an Iranian jail.

Damian Green, the Prime Minister's de facto deputy, is also under investigation over claims he sexually harassed a female journalist, and that pornography was found on his work computer during a police raid in 2008. He denies both allegations.

Despite the turmoil, the poll suggests the number of people who believe she should stand down as Prime Minister has fallen.

Just 32% of voters now think she should abandon her post, as opposed to 40% who thought she should following her disastrous conference speech.

Some 42% now think she should remain, which is up 3%.

After Mr Johnson’s gaffe, 44% of the public believe Mrs May should sack him, 26% think he should stay and 29% do not know.