Almost half of Britons believe Theresa May should quit as prime minister, according to polls conducted since the general election.

A YouGov poll for the Sunday Times suggested 48 per cent thought she should stand down, with 38 per cent saying she should stay, while Survation for the Mail on Sunday had 49 per cent per cent of people saying she should quit, with 38 per cent saying she should remain in the post.

The Survation study gave Labour a five-point lead over the Tories, with Jeremy Corbyn's party on 45 per cent and the Tories on 39 per cent.

YouGov found that May and Corbyn are neck-and-neck when the public were asked who would make the best prime minister - with both leaders on 39 per cent.

If May resigned some 41 per cent thought she should go immediately, 20 per cent believed within the next six months and 23 per cent said after negotiating Brexit, according to the Survation poll.

In the same poll, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was favourite to replace her, with 26 per cent choosing him.