More than 60% of voters are worried about the UK’s overall defence capability after it emerged this week that a Trident sub suffered a missile test failure, a new poll reveals. 

The WeThink poll found that 61% are worried about Britain’s overall defences with 39% saying they were not worried.

Meanwhile, 54% said they were concerned about the UK’s nuclear capability with 46% not concerned and 69% said they would support the UK having a nuclear deterrent, with 31% saying they would not support it. 

WeThink pollsters asked Brits about defence after it emerged that a Trident nuclear missile failed a test launch, crashing back into the ocean close to the submarine that fired it off the coast of Florida last month. 

ON COGNITIVE TESTS FOR WORLD LEADERS

Patti Davis, the daughter of former US President Ronald Reagan, this week backed cognitive testing for presidential candidates to determine their suitability for the role. 

We asked Brits if they agreed or not:

Furthermore, we asked if there be an age limit for leaders of a country? Here’s what Britain said: 

BEST OF THE REST

Campaigners this week lost a High Court challenge against a plan to build a road tunnel through the Stonehenge World Heritage site. We asked if Brits think it should be allowed or not?

And from mid-March, overseas social care workers coming to work in the UK will no longer be allowed to bring dependents (spouses / children). We asked if voters thought this was a fair immigration policy? 

ON VOTER INTENTION 

Labour’s lead dropped by one point this week but they still command a 19-point lead over the Tories. Meanwhile, there was bad news for the Prime Minister as his net approval dropped by three to –28 and he fell further behind Sir Keir Starmer as the nation’s preferred Prime Minister. 

ON BREXIT

BREXIT (All Respondents)

This week’s poll was conducted on 22-23 February 2024, questioned 1,243 people and is weighted to a national representative population.

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Image credit: U.S. Navy photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons