Public fear politics is driving doctors' walkouts as NHS 'heads off a cliff'

MORE than a third of people believe junior doctor strikes are politically motivated, as experts warned the NHS is "heading off a cliff-edge".

- Lucy Johnston

Junior doctors began their longest stretch of industrial action in the NHS's history last Wednesday, as part of their dispute over pay.

The walkout from A&E and hospital wards will end on Tuesday. It follows a 72-hour action last month which led to the cancellation of almost 88,000 NHS appointments.

Polling for the Sunday Express showed the doctors have maintained public support, with 44 per cent backing the strikes and 36 per cent opposed.

However, divisions appeared along political lines, with six in 10 Tory voters against the action compared to a quarter of Labour supporters.

The WeThink poll of more than 1,000 adults found 36 per cent believe the strikes are politically motivated. This included 32 per cent of Labour voters and 46 per cent of Tories.

A greater overall number - 38 per cent - did not believe they were politically motivated.

In addition, 49 per cent do not believe junior doctors should be banned from striking, while 36 per cent felt it should be illegal for doctors to go on strike.