1 in 3 young prayed for Boris as he fought virus

ALMOST a third of younger Britons prayed for Boris Johnson and the Tory government during the pandemic – compared with only one in ten over-55s.

A survey found 29 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 prayed for the Prime Minister, despite the perception that younger people are less supportive of Tories. The figure was higher among Muslims (44 per cent) than Christians (22 per cent).

Graeme Cade, executive vice president of Savanta ComRes, which carried out the poll, attributed the prayers in part to Mr Johnson being hospitalised after becoming seriously ill with Covid.

The findings came as Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he prayed as he created the furlough scheme to protect jobs in March last year. ‘I said many a prayer,’ the practising Hindu told the Daily Mail.

The study also suggests younger Britons are twice as likely to pray than the over-55s, with 37 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds agreeing prayer had a positive role in society at the height of the pandemic.

Researchers, who polled more than 2,000 people, found 51 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds prayed at least once a month and 49 per cent went to church or attended a religious service. The figures for those over 55 were 24 and 16 per cent.

Experts believe fear caused by Covid prompted the young to turn to religion. Mr Cade said: ‘There’s that tongue-in-cheek comment that people find religion on their deathbed. You turn to religion when faced with horrible circumstances.

‘With Covid there has been a rise in online worship... through online channels and social media. So it became more prevalent in the world of younger people.’

The survey was commissioned by the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, a project to build a 169ft arch of a million bricks, each representing an answered prayer.