Britain split on whether 2017 will be a good year for UK, poll reveals

As one of the most tumultuous years in recent history draws to an end, Britain is split over whether 2017 will turn out to be a good year for the UK, according to a new survey.

Some 45% of people questioned by pollsters Ipsos Mori said they expected next year to be a good one for the UK, while 43% said it would be bad.

But there was less doubt that both the European Union and the US are heading for a tough 12 months.

With Donald Trump taking office in January, some 59% said they expected a bad year for America and just 28% a good one. And expectations for the EU were even gloomier, with 18% saying 2017 will be good for Europe and 69% bad.

Also facing a difficult year, according to the people surveyed, are Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party - predicted to have a bad 2017 by 66% and 65% respectively.

Over half (51%) forecast good fortune for Prime Minister Theresa May, against 35% thinking she would have a tough year. And London Mayor Sadiq Khan was predicted to have a good year by 58% and a bad one by just 19%.

But the one group who British people appear to think are most likely to have a good year are themselves. Asked whether 2017 would be good for "you and your family", more than seven in 10 (72%) said yes.

Ipsos Mori head of political research Gideon Skinner said: "The public's expectations of winners and losers in 2017 suggests they see little reason to change their current views of the political scene.

"Theresa May and Sadiq Khan stand out, although both outperform their parties - by a long way in the case of Labour.

"A week is a long time in politics, and a year even more so, especially with Brexit on the horizon, but Labour has a long way to go to win back the confidence of the public."

:: Ipsos Mori interviewed 1,003 adults between December 9 and 12.