Independent Political Poll

ComRes interviewed 1,002 GB adults by telephone between 24^th and 26^th January 2014. 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.

Date Published: 28 Jan 2014

Categories: Economy | Politics | Public and communities | UK

Description

COMRES / INDEPENDENT POLL

Labour’s lead over the Conservatives has dropped to just one point amid signs that the Tories are beginning to make headway in the battle over living standards, according to a ComRes poll for The Independent.

Some 39 per cent of people agreed with the statement that their family’s finances would be better off with David Cameron and George Osborne than with Ed Miliband and Ed Balls. But only 28 per cent agreed when the statement was reversed to say their family’s finances would be better off with the Labour leader and Shadow Chancellor.

Women (31 per cent) were more likely than men (24 per cent) to believe their family’s finances would be better off under Mr Miliband and Mr Balls, while men (43 per cent) were more likely than women (35 per cent) to think they would be better off under the Prime Minister and Chancellor.

The survey put Labour on 33 per cent (down four points on last month) and the Conservatives on 32 per cent (unchanged), giving Labour its smallest lead in a ComRes poll for The Independent since December 2011, when the two parties were neck and neck on 38 per cent. The UK Independence Party is now on 14 per cent (up four points on last month), while the Liberal Democrats are on 9 per cent (unchanged).

Only 29 per cent believe Mr Balls would make a better chancellor than Mr Osborne, while 47 per cent disagree with this statement. Almost one in four people (23 per cent) who voted Labour in 2010 do not think Mr Balls would do a better job than Mr Osborne.

Three in 10 people (30 per cent) say they would be more likely to vote Labour if Mr Balls were replaced as shadow Chancellor.

ComRes interviewed 1,002 GB adults by telephone between 24^th and 26^th January 2014. 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.