Spending cuts causing public backlash against coalition, says opinion poll

• Guardian/ICM poll: 62% say austerity measures harm economy • Half of voters unimpressed by coalition’s record • Only half Labour voters think Ed Miliband would be good PM The tide of public opinion has turned against coalition spending cuts, according to a Guardian/ICM poll which shows a majority of voters now believe excessive austerity is doing more harm than good to the economy. The research – carried out this week before Labour’s annual conference – finds overwhelming public concern about the speed and pace of cuts in the face of the return to economic crisis and fears of a double-dip recession. Only 32% agree with the statement “the government’s tax increases and public spending cuts are essential to protect Britain’s economy”. Almost twice as many, 62%, now agree ‘the cuts are too deep and too fast, they will harm Britain’s economy more than they help it”. Among voters only Conservatives are largely in favour of the coalition’s programme – with 67% of definite Lib Dem and 87% of Labour supporters opposed. The results suggest fear of cuts is rising fast. In March 2011 , in answer to a differently worded question which allowed people also to suggest cuts should go further, only 35% said cuts were going too far, against 28% who agreed with their scope and 29% who wanted more. In October 2010, the results were 48% too far, 36% right and 8% further. Despite this, a year after he won the leadership, voters, including Labour supporters, express doubt about Ed Miliband’s suitability for the job. Only 30% of all voters – and crucially just 49% of Labour supporters – agree with the statement ‘the party has the right leader in Ed Miliband’. In a further question, only 28% say he has “the right qualities to make an effective prime minister” – while 60% disagree. Only 51% of definite Labour supporters think he has the right qualities to run Britain. However, the poll shows that the public is also cooling on the coalition, with only 39% saying it is doing a good job, against 51% who say bad – a net negative rating of 12 points. In March this year, on the same question, the score was -5. This is the first ICM poll to find a majority of voters disapprove of the coalition’s record. Asked whether they think leading political figures are doing a good or bad job, David Cameron scores a net positive rating of four points, up from -5 in July. George Osborne is on -6, up from -10. Nick Clegg – perhaps benefiting from exposure during the Liberal Democrats’ conference week – is on -8, up from -21. Among Labour figures, Ed Miliband is on -14, up from -16. Ed Balls, included for the first time, is on -18. Even among Labour voters he scores -4. This month’s poll finds little variation in support for the main parties, with a small increase in Labour support pushing the party back into a one-point lead. This month, Labour is on 38%, up two on August’s Guardian/ICM poll , the Conservatives are unchanged on 37% and the Lib Dems down three to 14%. Support for other smaller parties is a collective 12%. A year ago this month – immediately after Ed Miliband’s election to the leadership– Labour was one point lower than today, the Conservatives two points lower and the Lib Dems four points higher. • ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,003 adults aged 18+ by telephone on 20-21 September 2011. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Economic policy Opinion polls Liberal-Conservative coalition Ed Miliband Labour Nick Clegg Liberal Democrats David Cameron George Osborne Conservatives Economic growth (GDP) Economics Julian Glover guardian.co.uk

Posted by on September 23, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.