Majority of British public back Government's Yemen strikes, survey says

The majority of the public (53%) support the Government's decision to conduct air strikes on Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, compared to 22% who are opposed, a survey has found.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told MPs during a statement in the Commons that last Thursday's strikes on Houthi-linked sites in Yemen came as a response to the Iranian-backed group launching almost 30 "unacceptable" attacks on shipping in what he called the biggest attack on the Royal Navy "in decades".

According to the YouGov survey, which had a sample size of 2,037 respondents, most Britons support the Government's decision to take part in the Yemen strikes (53% or 1,079) with 22%, or 448, against.

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The military action was enforced before Parliament was informed which Mr Sunak said was due to "the need to maximise the security and effectiveness of the operation".

The YouGov data further revealed that seven in 10 of those who voted Conservative in 2019 (72% or 1,467) support the strikes, with 2019 Labour voters backing the action by the much-reduced rate of 40% (815).

However, the data shows that young Britons are split 27% (549) to 27% (549) for and against on the strikes (with 46%, or 937, unsure) – with the support for the attacks growing with each successive age group, reaching 74% (or 1,507) among the over-65s.

The Government's decision to send forces to protect shipping in the form of the Royal Navy's "jewel in the naval crown" HMS Diamond, has higher public support, at 60% (1,222) compared to 15% (306) opposed.