Job worry as nation divided on lockdown

NEARLY nine in 10 people fear for jobs as Boris Johnson prepares to announce new coronavirus curbs, an exclusive Mirror poll revealed last night.

Some 40% were “very concerned” and 45% “quite concerned” about unemployment as fresh restrictions loom, the Survation poll found.

Nearly six in 10 do not believe the Government has a long-term plan to cut cases in their area. In the North of England 61% said ministers lacked a strategy, next to 32% in London.

There was also a damning verdict on the Prime Minister’s handling of the crisis. Some 48% of voters said he was dealing with it quite badly or very badly, compared with just 33% who said he was handling it quite well or very well.

Asked who would best handle the crisis, 30% backed Mr Johnson, with Labour leader Keir Starmer only a few points behind on 27%.

In the North there was concern that lockdown had ended too soon. Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers across England reopened on July 4 when experts said virus levels were still too high in the North and parts of the Midlands. Some 57% said the lockdown ended too early in the North, compared with just 27% who thought it did not. The poll also found 57% of northerners thought lockdown rules were unclear. In the South, which has few fewer curbs, 52% said the they were clear. There was also a regional split over how well the Government understands the North and Midlands when deciding on restrictions. Some 37% in the South agreed the Government did not understand the regions, rising to 49% in the Midlands and 50% in the North. Plummeting trust in Whitehall was highlighted by 47% in the North wanting their local council or metro mayor to have the most power over local lockdowns. In London 62% said the Government should decide.

On Test and Trace, just 17% said the system was performing well. Survation quizzed 1,238 people online on October 8-9.

85% of those polled are worried about their jobs