YouGov: Public back Keir Starmer's decision to sack Rebecca Long-Bailey but do not agree Boris Johnson should stand by Robert Jenrick

Ellena Cruse26 June 2020

Labour leader Keir Starmer was right to sack Rebecca Long-Bailey after she shared an article containing an "anti-Semitic conspiracy theory", a snap poll reveals.

The former Shadow Education Secretary retweeted an interview with actress and Labour supporter Maxine Peake, but she later said she did not endorse all aspects of the story.

Speaking to the Independent, Ms Peake claimed that the brutal tactics US police involved in the death of George Floyd had been learned from the Israeli secret services. The actress later apologised for making an "inaccurate" assumption .

According to a YouGov poll, 47 per cent of participants backed Sir Keir's decision, 12 per cent said he was wrong to do so and 41 per cent said they didn't know.

The Labour MP said she did not support all the statements in the article (AFP via Getty Images)  
AFP via Getty Images

Labour voters had marginally less support for Sir Keir's decision with 44 per cent agreeing with the move and 16 per cent saying it was the wrong option.

It comes as major both political parties faced crises this week, with Boris Johnson refusing to sack housing minister Robert Jenrick after published documents cast further doubt over his relationship with billionaire property developer Richard Desmond.

The snap indication showed 39 per cent agreed that Mr Jenkins should resign, 11 per cent said he should stay and 50 per cent didn't know.

 The PM has stood by Mr Jenrick
10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty

Out of Tory voters, 33 per cent said he should lose his job, while 22 per cent agreed with Mr Johnson and said he should remain.

Mr Jenrick faced calls to resign after documents revealed he was “insistent” that a controversial east London development was approved before the introduction of a new levy that would cost its Tory donor backer millions.

The Prime Minister backed the beleaguered minister, with the head of the civil service saying Mr Johnson “considered the matter closed”.

Labour has called on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to investigate whether Mr Jenrick breached the code of conduct for members of Parliament.

Chris Curtis, Political Research Manager at YouGov said: “Given the public are almost always pro-sacking MPs when they are accused of wrong-doing, Keir Starmer’s decision to sack Rebecca Long-Bailey was always going to be more popular than the Prime Minister’s decision to stand by Robert Jenrick.

“But The Conservatives may take some comfort from the high number of Brits who said ‘don’t know’ when asked today if Jenrick should resign, indicating the story is yet to get much cut through.

“However, what might concern them most is that among those who do have a view, by almost four to one the public say he should stand down, with even more Conservative voters thinking he should resign than should not.

"The government will be hoping that this story dies down before it gets more traction.”

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