Public Blitzes the Government Over Junior Doctors’ Strikes
Savanta’s latest poll shows that a whopping 48 % of the public holds the government responsible for the junior doctors’ walk‑outs. It marks a small uptick from February, but a big jump since the stretches in April 2023.
Where the Numbers Stand
- Government blame – 48 %
- Trade union blame – 28 %
- Doctors themselves blame – 14 %
- Do doctors deserve the right to strike? 49 % say yes, 39 % say no.
Political Divides
Two‑thirds of Labour voters point the finger at the government (66 %), while only a quarter of Conservative voters share the same view (25 %). The undecided camp is almost even – 34 % blame the government, 31 % blame the unions.
Why the Government Gets the Shortest Stitches
Despite Rishi Sunak’s earnest attempts, the PM finds himself under the spotlight at a debate, where voters booed him as the drums of industrial action rolled on. Emma Levin (Savanta’s Associate Director) points out that the public’s frustration with the government is on a slow‑steady climb. The blame for the strikes isn’t as strong for trade unions among Conservative voters, adding another twist to the tale.
Bottom Line
In a nation where hospitals stay open round the clock, it seems the public’s anger isn’t directed at the doctors or their unions, but at the government that keeps them in a bind. Whether the strikes will resolve the issue remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the government’s reputation for these protests is taking a hit.
