Independent Political Poll

 ComRes interviewed 1,003 GB adults by telephone between 13-15  December 2013.

Date Published: 17 Dec 2013

Categories: Economy | Politics | Public and communities | UK

Description

 People regard securing growth as their top priority on the economy and more important than wage rises, according to a ComRes survey for The Independent.

 

The findings suggest that the Conservatives’ general message on the economy may resonate more than Labour’s campaign on the “cost of living crisis”. Their competing priorities will be a crucial battle between the two main parties at the 2015 General Election.

 

The public was asked to choose their most important priority for the Government over the next five years from a range of options about the economy. The most popular was ensuring that it continues to grow (41 per cent) followed by ensuring wages rise faster than prices (25 per cent);  keeping inflation down (17 per cent); reducing the government deficit (12 per cent); other (3 per cent) and don’t know (2 per cent).

 

Younger people are more likely than older ones to place more importance on wages rising faster than prices. Some 33 per cent of 18-34 year-olds say this should be the top priority, compared to only 18 per cent of those aged 55 and over.

 

According to ComRes, Labour retains the five-point lead it enjoyed in its last telephone poll for The Independent in November. Labour is on 37 per cent (no change); the Conservatives 32 per cent (no change): UKIP 10 per cent (down one point), the Liberal Democrats 9 per cent (no change) and others 12 per cent (up one point).

 

Methodology: ComRes interviewed 1,003 GB adults by telephone between 13-15  December 2013. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all GB adults. Data were also weighted by past vote recall. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.