Three quarters of Britons want Boris Johnson and senior ministers to take a pay cut in solidarity with millions of workers hammered by coronavirus lockdown.

A poll for MailOnline found some 75 per cent say the PM should follow  the example of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has voluntarily slashed his salary by 10 per cent - around £15,000 a year. 

Just 13 per cent said the move was not necessary, according to the survey by Redfield and Wilton Strategies. 

Fears are growing about the impact of lockdown on the economy, with the UK facing he worst recession in 300 years and millions of jobs set to go.

Official figures show public debt is bigger than GDP for the first time in 57 years, after the government borrowed an eye-watering £55billion in May.  

Mr Khan declared last week that he is trimming his £152,000 salary by 10 per cent in recognition of the £500million hole in London's finances caused by coronavirus.

The mayor's 15 direct political appointments will also have pay freezes. 

The step emulates politicians in New Zealand, who have also taken a temporary cut. 

Chancellor Rishi Sunak dodged questions last month over whether ministers should take a temporary pay reduction in solidarity with millions of workers on furlough, many of whose jobs might never return.

Downing Street has also ducked when asked whether the PM intends to give up some of his pay. David Cameron reduced ministerial salaries by 5 per cent and froze them when he came to power in the wake of the credit crunch in 2010.

Mr Khan has been heavily criticised for slow progress in getting transport services in the capital to full levels, with images of workers packed in to carriages.

He has threatened cuts to police, fire services and the Tube unless the government bails the capital out. 

The government has already offered a £1.6billion injection to shore up Transport for London, while slamming the 'pre-existing poor condition' of its finances. 

But Mr Khan said the GLA, in common with other authorities across the country, faces a £493million budget shortfall over the next two years, due to loss of business rates and council tax income from coronavirus.

There have also been costs to 'support Londoners during the pandemic', he insisted. 

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8440761/Three-quarters-Britons-want-Boris-Johnson-pay-cut.html