Political Poll for The Independent

David Cameron has failed to seal the deal with the voters, who think the Tories are not an appealing alternative to Labour and would represent the interests of the better off if they win power.

A ComRes poll for The Independent found that, by a margin of 49 to 45 per cent, people disagree with the statement that “the Conservative Party offers an appealing alternative to the Labour Party.”

Meanwhile, by a margin of 52 to 44 per cent, the public agrees with the statement that: “a Conservative Government would mainly represent the interests of the well-off rather than ordinary people.”

The survey gives the Tories a nine-point lead over, down one point on last month. If repeated at a general election, the figures would leave the Tories five seats short of an overall majority.

The Tories are on 38 per cent (up one point on last month); Labour 29 per cent (up two points); Liberal Democrats 19 per cent (down one point) and others 14 per cent (down two points).

By a margin of 55 to 38 per cent, people support the Tory policy of raising the threshold for inheritance tax should be raised to £1 million.

The public is evenly divided over whether a Labour Government would protect frontline public services such as health and education better than a Conservative Government would. Some 47 per cent agree with this statement, while 46 per cent disagree.

ComRes telephoned 1,006 GB adults between 19 ^th and 20 ^th December 2009.  Data were weighted by past vote recall.