Half (48%) of the public say the government is the most to blame for junior doctors’ strikes, according to new research from Savanta ahead of the latest round of industrial action.
Savanta’s polling shows an increase of two-points (46%) since February in the proportion of the public saying they blame the government, up seven-points in total (41%) from just over a year ago in April 2023.
The polling, conducted after the most recent round of strikes were announced, (31 May-2 June) suggests that two thirds (66%) of Labour voters blame the government, compared to 25% of Conservative voters. Undecided voters are split, with 34% blaming the government and 31% blaming the trade unions for the industrial action.
Just under a third of the wider public (28%) say they mainly blame the trade unions representing the junior doctors for the strikes, with just one in seven (14%) blaming the junior doctors themselves.
More people (49%) say that the junior doctors should be allowed to take industrial action during the campaign than not (39%).
Emma Levin, Associate Director at Savanta said, “Despite Rishi Sunak’s best efforts, our research suggests the public very much blames his government for the ongoing junior doctors’ strikes – as evidenced by the prime minister being booed by voters on the topic during a debate.”
“If anything, the proportion of the public blaming the government keeps increasing. While there appears to be some scepticism in our research over the role of trade unions in causing the strikes, this appears to be mainly driven by Conservative voters.
