Of the twelve issues tested, the party scores worst on controlling immigration – the issue which is consistently the first or second most powerful in determining how people say they will decide how to vote next May. Just 12% of Britons trust it most to do so, compared to 43% of voters who trust UKIP most (16% most trust the Conservatives). Four percent trust most the Lib Dems.
On the issue Labour do second worse on, the deficit, the Conservatives have a large 25 point lead. 39% of British adults most trust the Conservatives to reduce the Government’s budget deficit, while only 14% most trust Labour.
However, on the NHS and the issue at the centre of Mr Miliband’s new offer, Labour does have a useful lead. The research, conducted over the weekend before the speech, shows 29% of Britons trust the Labour Party most to manage the NHS, with 20% most trusting the Conservatives.
The poll also shows that Ed Miliband is still struggling to carve out a positive image with the public, trailing David Cameron on being statesmanlike, competent, intelligent and able to get things done.
Findings in detail
Best Party
- Labour holds a lead over the Conservatives as the party most to trusted to manage the NHS (29% and 20% respectively), keep down the cost of everyday items (28% and 19% respectively), provide adequate care for the elderly (26% and 15%), improve housing affordability (28% and 18%) and make the welfare system fairer (28% and 23%).
- However, just 12% of Britons most trust the party to control immigration. By comparison, 43% most trust UKIP (an increase of 8 points since August) to do so and 16% most trust the Conservatives.
- Although the Conservatives are most trusted to promote economic growth by 34% to 20% who trust Labour, Labour have a three point lead over the Conservatives on being trusted to make sure the benefits of economic growth are felt by all.
- With Ed Balls promising to restore Labour’s economic credibility in his conference speech this week, the poll shows the scale of the job he has on his hands – Labour trail the Conservatives on being the party most trusted to get the Government’s budget deficit down by 25 percentage points (39% to 14%).
Q: Which party do you trust most to…
Issue
|
Lab
|
Con
|
Lib Dem
|
UKIP
|
Don’t know
|
Manage the NHS
|
29%
|
20%
|
7%
|
9%
|
35%
|
Keep down the cost of everyday items, such as food, energy and travel
|
28%
|
19%
|
5%
|
9%
|
39%
|
Make the welfare system fairer
|
28%
|
23%
|
6%
|
11%
|
32%
|
Improve housing affordability
|
28%
|
18%
|
5%
|
8%
|
41%
|
Make sure the benefits of economic growth are felt by all
|
26%
|
23%
|
6%
|
11%
|
32%
|
Provide adequate care for the elderly
|
26%
|
15%
|
10%
|
8%
|
42%
|
Improve the education system
|
25%
|
24%
|
8%
|
9%
|
35%
|
Promote economic growth
|
20%
|
34%
|
4%
|
11%
|
31%
|
Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour
|
17%
|
29%
|
4%
|
14%
|
36%
|
Redefine Britain’s relationship with the EU
|
15%
|
23%
|
5%
|
30%
|
27%
|
Reduce the Government’s budget deficit
|
14%
|
39%
|
4%
|
9%
|
33%
|
Control immigration
|
12%
|
16%
|
4%
|
43%
|
25%
|
Base: All GB adults (n=2,048).
- Ed Miliband trails David Cameron in terms of being seen as statesman like (9% think Miliband is statesmanlike, 37% say the same of David Cameron), competent (19% to 31%), intelligent (32% to 43%), can get things done (17% to 31%). More also think Mr Miliband weird than do David Cameron (31% and 9% respectively). In fact, as many think Mr Miliband is weird as think the same of Mr Farage (32%).
- David Cameron however, is seen as out of touch with ordinary people by significantly more than think the same of Ed Miliband (52% and 36% respectively).
Q: Please select which of the following words or phrases apply to each party leader.
Statement
|
David Cameron
|
Ed Miliband
|
Nick Clegg
|
Nigel Farage
|
Trustworthy
|
20%
|
19%
|
10%
|
15%
|
Out of touch with ordinary people
|
52%
|
36%
|
46%
|
24%
|
Has the right policies for Britain’s future
|
26%
|
20%
|
7%
|
25%
|
Is statesmanlike
|
37%
|
9%
|
6%
|
12%
|
Comes across as someone like me
|
13%
|
15%
|
8%
|
20%
|
Competent
|
32%
|
19%
|
11%
|
19%
|
Intelligent
|
43%
|
32%
|
27%
|
29%
|
Can get things done
|
31%
|
17%
|
7%
|
19%
|
Weird
|
9%
|
31%
|
15%
|
33%
|
None of the above
|
10%
|
14%
|
20%
|
16%
|
Base: All GB adults (n=2,048).
ComRes interviewed 2,048 British adults online between 19th and 21st September 2014. Data were weighted to be representative of all GB adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
