Britons vote Southgate most popular figure ahead of Churchill due to Euro 20202 heroics
GARETH SOUTHGATE is more popular than Sir Winston Churchill among Britons, a new poll has found.
Boris Johnson praises ‘outstanding’ Gareth Southgate
According to a poll released today, England's manager now has a 72 percent favorability rating with an unfavourable rating of 11 percent. In contrast, Britain's iconic Prime Minister had a rating of 65 percent combined with an unfavourable percentage of 22. This put him at a net favorability rating of 43 in contrast to Southgate's 61 the poll from Opinium research found.
In a further plus to the England manager, Southgate had an 82 percent favorability among both Tory and Labour voters.
Commenting on the poll, many insisted Southgate was a likeable man and had done superbly to take England to the final.
One person said: "I'm no England fan but Southgate is an immensely likeable and socially conscious person, find it difficult to comprehend that 11% percent don't like him."
A second said: "Win Sunday and we can expect a Southgate statue?"
Another said: "Where could you possibly find 11 percent of people who have an 'unfavourable' view of Gareth Southgate."
Such is the popularity of the England manager, many have called for him to be given an honour.
After masterminding the team to the final on Sunday, there have been calls for the England manager to be given a knighthood.
The Prime Minister also praised the England manager and claimed the honours committee should look into rewarding Southgate for his efforts.
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He said: "I obviously wouldn't want to anticipate anything that the honours people may decide.
"But clearly I think Gareth Southgate has done an absolutely outstanding job.
"What seems so amazing to me is how he varies it, he mixes it up, and plays a different series of options depending on the match in question."
There have also been calls to create a national holiday if England wins on Sunday.
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A petition has been created calling on the Prime Minister to grant a day-off for the public and has gained more than 300,000 signatories.
Plans over any celebrations or national holiday have been kept secret although Downing Street stated it will announce them in due course.
A spokesman said: "I don't want to pre-empt the outcome of Sunday's match.
"Clearly we want England to go all the way and win the final, and then we will set out our plans in due course.
"Let's see what happens on Sunday."
Downing Street has called on employers to be flexible with staff if they can on Monday if England win.
This poll was conducted between July 8-9 and asked 1,794 people.