Is Johnson on 'borrowed time' as lockdown 2.0 starts?

ENGLAND on Monday entered its first full week of the second coronavirus national lockdown. While the nation faces a new health emergency, a political crisis could also be brewing for Prime Minister Boris Johnson almost a year after his landslide general election victory.

The latest country-wide lockdown, which Mr Johnson insisted as late as last month would not be needed, is a body blow for his political credibility and authority. So much so that there is increased doubt in Westminster whether the prime minister is up to the job, and if he can survive in office until the next election.

He is being roundly criticised by both a cadre of right-wing MPs and libertarians, as well as leading conservative-leaning newspapers such as the Telegraph and Daily Mail. Opposition parties have also stepped up their attacks on him too.