MoS survey: 85% say they complied with Christmas clampdown rules

AN OVERWHELMING number of people obeyed Ministers’ Christmas visiting clampdown – despite widespread disruption to their festive celebrations.

A snap poll for The Mail on Sunday revealed that almost threequarters of people backed the decision to impose more severe restrictions.

The survey showed that 73 per cent agreed with the move to cancel plans for family mixing in some areas and limit it to just one day together elsewhere.

This was despite 34 per cent of people being forced to change their Christmas Day plans by no longer meeting friends or family members such as parents and siblings – a figure that rose to 51 per cent in the tier 4 areas of London and the South East of England.

A total of 11 per cent said they had to spend the day alone because of the clampdown.

The survey, by findoutnow.co.uk, asked those affected how they felt about not seeing loved ones – 11 per cent responded by saying ‘lonely’, but 20 per cent answered ‘safer’. A total of 45 per cent described feeling ‘sad’, while a candid six per cent

‘Royals take some blame for non-compliance’

admitted being ‘relieved’. Government officials admit to being surprised by the extent to which the Covid rules have been followed, and that is borne out by the poll, with just 15 per cent saying they defied the rules.

Of those who ignored the restrictions, 58 per cent said they did so because seeing their families was more important; 28 per cent didn’t think the rules were fair and 17 per cent did not believe the risks.

The researchers found that the Royal Family bears some responsibility for any non-observance – but largely among the young. A photograph published last week showing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge mingling in breach of the rule of six was cited by 19 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 as making them less inclined to obey social-distancing rules. Among the over65s the figure was just 7 per cent.

The economic impact of the measures is highlighted by the fact that 86 per cent of people were planning to avoid the Boxing Day sales this year.

The survey found that most people did not share the Government’s optimism that the rollout of the vaccine programme will lead to the lifting of lockdown measures by the spring. Only six per cent of those questioned think the UK will return to normality by April, rising to a total of 22 per cent who hope we will be unencumbered by July. Only 44 per cent believe things will go back to normality within a year.

No 10 will be cheered by the extent to which Mr Johnson is trusted over the measures. When asked whether they believed the evidence provided by the Prime Minister to justify the new restrictions a total of 55 per cent said they did, while just 20 per cent said they did not. And when they were asked whether they blamed Mr Johnson for disrupting their Christmas plans, 20 per cent said ‘very much’ but 40 per cent said ‘not at all’.

● Find Out Now surveyed 42,308 respondents between December 19 and 26.