Brits want teachers to jump the queue for Covid vaccine to get schoolkids back to class
TEACHERS should go to the front of the queue for coronavirus jabs, most people believe.
Six out of ten Brits want them to be given top priority to speed up the safe reopening of schools.
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Police officers and essential shop workers are the nation’s choice to be next in line for the vaccine, a Sun on Sunday poll reveals.
The overwhelming majority still believes that the most vulnerable people, along with NHS and care home staff, should be protected first.
But there is huge public support for making teachers a priority so kids can return to classes as quickly as possible.
Last night the public verdict was backed by senior Tory MPs.
Former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey said: “It’s vital schools reopen - for the child’s best interest and for families, too.
“If vaccinating teachers, after the most vulnerable in society, removes the barriers to reopening schools then we should do it.
“You can’t close schools and not have a workable alternative for the nation’s children. That’s why I’m also calling for 2021 to be the year the government sets a National Standard for Online Education - which ensures every child has a laptop to receive lessons on, reliable network connections to deliver those lessons, a curriculum and teacher oversight plus feedback.”
Our Redfield and Wilton Strategies survey asked 2,000 people to pick up to three groups they believe should be prioritised for vaccination.
Teachers were chosen by 60 per cent, followed by police officers with 48 per cent, shop workers on 41 and pub, restaurant and hotel workers on 27.
Surprisingly, only 16 per cent put members of the armed forces in their top three priority list.
Most people prefer the Tories led by Boris Johnson to protect Britain from the pandemic than Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party.
They also trust the PM more than the opposition leader to lead the economic recovery once the virus has been tamed.
Some 42 per cent say they have more faith in Mr Johnson, health secretary Matt Hancock and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, compared with 29 per cent who prefer the Labour trio of Starmer, Jonathan Ashworth and Anneliese Dodds.
On the economy, Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak are preferred by 46 per cent, while just 27 per cent would rather put their trust in Sir Keir and Ms Dodds.
Four in ten people say they have not changed their view of Mr Johnson as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
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But 22 per cent say they now have a more positive view of the PM and 34 per cent have a more negative view.
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Overall he is given a personal approval rating of minus four in his response to the pandemic while Sir Keir manages just plus one.
The Chancellor gets the highest personal rating – plus 24 – while his shadow Ms Dodds scores minus eight.