Six in 10 Conservative voters (59 per cent) back the police investigation into allegations that parties at 10 Downing Street breached lockdown rules, according to a new survey.
The polling figures were released as Liberal Democrats called for prime minister Boris Johnson to be put on gardening leave until the Metropolitan Police inquiry is concluded – a process which could take months.
Lib Dem home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said it was necessary to remove the PM from Downing Street to ensure he cannot “try and abuse his position to get himself off the hook”.
The new poll, commissioned by Lib Dems, was conducted just before Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick announced a police probe on Tuesday.
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UK news in pictures 22 January 2022 Participants prepare to take part in the Crisis icebreaker cold water challenge at Tooting Bec Lido in London
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UK news in pictures 15 January 2022 Demonstrators outside Downing Street during a ‘Kill The Bill’ protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in London
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UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year
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UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic
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UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London
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UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland
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UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket
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UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queen’s Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London
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UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London
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UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham
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UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London
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UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge.
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UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year
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UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux
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UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster
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It found that three-quarters of voters agreed the Met should formally investigate the PM over breaches of Covid regulations at No 10 – including 59 per cent of those who identified themselves as Conservative supporters.
Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson said: “Britain played by the rules Boris Johnson wrote, but couldn’t be bothered to stick to himself. The British public now want him to be held to account.
"Bereaved families and all those who sacrificed so much in this pandemic deserve to see justice carried out.
“This disgraceful soap opera needs to end once and for all. It is time for Conservative MPs to do the decent thing and sack Boris Johnson."
Mr Carmichael said that until the “partygate” inquiry is concluded, Mr Johnson should go home and step back from official work, leaving his deputy Dominic Raab to take over running the day-to-day affairs of the government.
Citing warnings – revealed by The Independent – that Downing Street staff may seek to withhold evidence in order to avoid damage to their careers, he said it was standard practice for those subject to investigation to be put on leave to prevent them attempting to influence the outcome.
“Since Boris Johnson is such a fan of spending time in his garden, it’s only fitting that he be placed on gardening leave and leave Number 10 whilst the police investigate,” said Mr Carmichael.
“This will ensure he cannot try and abuse his position to get himself off the hook.
“Refusing to do so will show both the Conservatives’ utter contempt for the public and erode trust in this government even further.”
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- Savanta ComRes interviewed 2,310 UK adults between 21 and 23