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Pollwatch: April political tracker

Chris Hopkins Political Research Director 23/04/2021

The latest wave of Savanta ComRes' Monthly Political Tracker sees a 9pt gap between Johnson and Starmer's net favourability ratings

• Net favourability: Sunak +20% (+2), Johnson +2% (-1), Government -1% (-1), Starmer -7% (=), Hancock -8% (-3)
• Best PM rating: Johnson 44% (=), Starmer 30% (+3), Don’t know 26% (-3)
• Johnson & Policies: Like both 31% (+2), Dislike both 31% (+1), Like him, dislike policies 17% (+1), Like policies, dislike him 8% (-1), Don’t know 12% (-3)
• Starmer & Policies: Like both 20% (+2), Dislike both 28% (+1), Like him, dislike policies 16% (=), Like policies, dislike him 9% (-1), Don’t know 27% (-1)

Equal proportions say that they like both Boris Johnson and his policies (31%), as those who say that they dislike both him and his policies (31%)...

Best PM rating

The latest ‘Best PM’ rating from Savanta ComRes’ Monthly Political Tracker sees Boris Johnson stay on 44%, while Sir Keir Starmer sees a 3pt rise to 30%. Amongst those aged 18-34, Johnson’s score is 40%, with Starmer’s on 34%.

Amongst 2019 Labour voters, one in six say that Johnson would make the best PM (17%), with three in five saying Starmer (62%).

Favourability ratings – NET scores

Despite Boris Johnson’s NET favourability rating down 1pt since last month (+2%), and Sir Keir Starmer’s unchanged (-7%), there is a 9pt gap between the two party leaders. This is the same gap recorded in our latest Westminster Voting Intention which showed the Conservatives on 43% of the vote share and Labour on 34%.

Leader characteristics – Johnson vs Starmer

The two party leaders are fairly level on most personal metrics. Boris Johnson, however, is almost three times as likely to be viewed as ‘charismatic’ (31% vs 11%), whilst also significantly outperforming Starmer as ‘strong’ (21% vs 14%).

Despite this, the Labour leader is viewed as both more ‘intelligent’ (33% vs 30%) and more ‘honest’ (17% vs 13%).

Leaders and their policies – Johnson vs Starmer

Despite Starmer seeing a 2pt rise in the proportion who say that they like both him and his policies (20%), over a quarter still say that they ‘don’t know’ (27%), and a further three in ten say that they dislike both him and his policies (28%).

Equal proportions say that they like both Boris Johnson and his policies (31%), as those who say that they dislike both him and his policies (31%).

Party characteristics – Labour vs Conservative

Three in ten UK adults say that the Labour Party is ‘divided’ (29%), compared to just one in five who say the same about the Conservative Party (20%).

Whilst Labour are more likely to be seen as understanding the issues facing ordinary people than the Conservatives (24% vs 15%), as well as the issues facing society’s most vulnerable (23% vs 13%), the Conservative Party are more likely to be seen as understanding the issues facing the country as a whole (23% vs 20%).

Leaders and their parties – Johnson vs Starmer

The proportion who say that they like both Sir Keir Starmer and his party (23%) is up 6pts since March, with the proportion who say that they dislike both is down 1pt to 27%.

Since the last wave of our tracker in March, there has been a 1pt rise in those who say that they like both Boris Johnson and his party (28%), and a 1pt rise in those who say that they dislike both (30%).

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