Boris Johnson (pictured) must repair the damage to public health.
Boris Johnson urged to repair the damage of the Dominic Cummings scandal – after a YouGov poll revealed 56% (+5) of people think the Tory government is handling coronavirus ‘badly’, the lowest approval rating since the crisis began.
It follows a poll from Opinium, published in The Observer on Sunday, which found Boris Johnson’s net approval rating in the negative at -5% (-11), while two-thirds (66%) think Johnson should have sacked Mr Cummings and two in five (43%) said they have lost respect for the Tory government over its support for Mr Cummings.
Meanwhile there are growing concerns the Tory government is taking a cavalier approach to coronavirus – by seeking to rush to ease lockdown measures despite warnings from public health experts, and in a way that could see infections rise.
On Sunday, the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) said it is “increasingly concerned” Tory ministers are easing restrictions too quickly, with ADPH President Jeanelle de Gruchy warning “Directors of Public Health are increasingly concerned that the government is misjudging this balancing act and lifting too many restrictions, too quickly.”
Commenting, Dr Philippa Whitford MP said:
“Boris Johnson must urgently repair the damage he has done to public health over the Dominic Cummings scandal – and the series of reckless decisions that have been made on coronavirus.
“Trust in the Tory government, and its handling of covid-19, is being eroded as they try to defend the indefensible – with public approval ratings falling to the lowest levels since the crisis began.
“We know the Dominic Cummings scandal has undermined efforts to tackle the virus – by sending out the message there is one rule for the Tory elite and another for the rest of us.
“There are fears the Prime Minister is taking a cavalier approach to coronavirus, by seeking to rush to ease lockdown measures further, without assessing the impact of sending people in England back to work on 11th May and despite warnings from public health experts.
“With the UK government’s Test, Trace and Isolate system not yet fully functioning, there is a real danger the infection rate could go up through these decisions; putting more lives at risk.
“In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has made clear the Scottish Government will continue to take a very cautious, slow and steady route out of lockdown and monitor the impact of each step – recognising that the virus hasn’t gone away and there are still significant risks.
“The Tory government must set out how it will repair the damage it has done – and give assurances it will not act recklessly and in a way that could cause a second wave of infections.”
