What does Britain really think of strikes?

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Rishi Sunak has been warned that his "high risk" strategy on public sector pay rises could backfire as an exclusive poll for The Independent showed strong public support for further strikes in 2023.

Nearly two in three voters would support NHS nurses taking more strike action l next year if their wage demands are not met, according to the Savanta poll, with only 24% opposed. In addition, more voters expressed support for further industrial action by railway workers, bus drivers, postal workers and teachers than those who opposed further strikes.

< p>About 65% of those polled said they thought Mr Sunak's government had handled the wave of winter strikes badly, while only 27% thought the crisis had been handled well.

See more' On the workers' side, Chris Hopkins, the director of Savanta, said Mr Sunak would find the polling figures "worrying" given that public opinion is broadly supportive of workers who are threatening to strike again in 2023.

“Clearly the public is on the side of the workers,” Mr. Hopkins said. "While that doesn't necessarily mean the public thinks the unions are blameless, they do think the government is equally, if not more, to blame for [there have been] so many public sector walkouts."

Government of the government

Mr. Hopkins said the government was banking on further disruption "having an attritional effect" on strike support, adding...