Boris Johnson: Opinion polls drop support to record-low 19pc

London: Support for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has fallen to a record low, reaching 19%, a YouGov poll said on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Johnson announced that he is stepping down as prime minister and leader of the UK’s Conservative Party and will fulfill his obligations until a new prime minister is appointed.
Only 19% of respondents support Johnson as prime minister, while 72% have a negative opinion about his work, the poll said. Among those who voted for Johnson in the 2019 election, 52% of Britons also assess his work negatively.
At the same time, opposition leader Keir Starmer received a more positive assessment, as he is supported by 36% of respondents.
He is followed by the former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, who has gained more support since his decision to step down. Thirty-four percent of respondents support Sunak, while his successor, Nadhim Zahawi, is supported by only 19% of the people.
Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid is supported by 31% of respondents, while his successor Steve Barclay is supported by only 9%.
According to the poll, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is supported by 18% of respondents, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace – by 16%, Home Secretary Priti Patel – by 15%, and former Secretary for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove – by 14%.
The poll was conducted from July 6-7 July and surveyed 1,687 UK citizens.
Last week, Christopher Pincher resigned as deputy chief whip of the Conservative party after being accused of sexual misconduct in one of London’s private members club. A number of politicians claimed that Johnson appointed Pincher to the post despite knowing about sexual misconduct claims. On Tuesday, Johnson apologized and admitted, “in hindsight it was the wrong thing to do.”
The scandal has led to a string of resignations, with dozens of officials stepping down from Johnson’s government, including such key figures as Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.(UNI/SPUTNIK)