Our ComRes poll for The Independent on Sunday brings encouraging news for the Prime Minister. The Lib Dem post-conference surge seems to have come at the expense of the Conservatives rather than the Government. And David Miliband - just as he seems to be emerging as the clear alternative leader - seems to be faltering.
The voting intention figures are (with the change since the last ComRes poll for the IoS in August):
Conservative 39% (-7)
Labour 27% (+2)
Lib Dem 21% (+5)
Other 12% (-1)
We also asked interviewees if the agreed or disagreed with the following statement, last asked in June.
David Miliband would be a better prime minister than Gordon Brown
Agree 30% (June: 41%)
Disagree 47% (June: 46%)
So, just as Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, rules himself out of the running and gives Miliband his strong backing for the future, and after Miliband's much-publicised leadership bid article in The Guardian in the summer, the Foreign Secretary's standing with the general public has dropped 11 points.
More respite for Brown in the answers to these questions:
With the economy in its present state, now is the wrong time for Labour to think of changing prime minister
Agree 57%
Disagree 36%
If Gordon Brown is replaced as Prime Minister there should be an immediate general election
Agree 71%
Disagree 24%
The Conservative Party is not yet ready for power
Agree 46%
Disagree 43%
ComRes telephoned 1014 GB adults on 17th-18th September 2008. Full tables at the ComRes website.
Not according to the latest poll for Politicshome by YouGov polling. Labour is heading for meltdown and to be honest it's hardly a surprise:
http://www.politicshome.com/landing.aspx#2939
Posted by: Peter Wilson | Saturday, 20 September 2008 at 11:23 PM
Didn't ComRes get it completely wrong over Crewe & Nantwich amongst others?
And they're used by the Labour Government aren't they?
Hmmm! perhaps the piper is being paid to call the tune.
Posted by: Silent Hunter | Sunday, 21 September 2008 at 12:52 AM
This Brown subject is exhausted and not worth further comment.
Posted by: Diogenes | Monday, 22 September 2008 at 06:54 AM
"The Conservative Party is not yet ready for power." This old canard is always popping up - as if any party were ever ready for power! Politicians never have a clue what to do until they get there, any of them. No qualifications, no training, indeed, many would say zero aptitude for managing a country. They get in, attempt to put through a few changes as promised in their platform, find they don't work, and then step back to concentrate on employing their family members, getting their kitchens made over and tripping round the world for free. They're ready for that, but not for managing the country. You might just as well ask Disneyland Inc to move into Westminster.
Posted by: john problem | Monday, 22 September 2008 at 07:39 AM
I'm sure it's both rhetorical and a very lazy convention, but it never ceases to grate with me how British journalists tend to present things in terms of what's good and bad for the idiot in power at any given time.
"Bad news for Mr. Hitler" etc. poor Mr.Hitler! Poor Mr.Brown! I wouldn't be annoyed if the emphasis was placed on what's good for the PEOPLE these "£$"£%$£^ are supposed to represent instead of making it into a soap opera.
Posted by: Nicholas | Monday, 22 September 2008 at 02:14 PM
Now read the poll of marginal seats published in the guardian. It suggests a wipeout for Labour.
Posted by: Neil Murphy | Monday, 22 September 2008 at 06:23 PM