Poll Archive
Political Attitudes
Fieldwork: August 29th 2008 - August 31st 2008
published by The Times
Change since previous poll (25th-27th July) shown in brackets
| Labour | 27% | (-) |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 43% | (-) |
| Lib Dem | 18% | (-) |
| Others | 12% | (-) |
Now I'd like you to think ahead to the next general election, and imagine that Gordon Brown has been replaced as Labour leader by David Miliband, who is currently the Foreign Secretary, and the Conservatives are led by David Cameron and the Liberal Democrats by Nick Clegg. Which party would you vote for then – or would you vote for another party or not vote at all? [NB. The figures in the table below include a ‘spiral of silence' adjustment, reallocating some don't knows, and are directly comparable]
| Brown | Miliband | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 27% | 26% |
| Conservative | 43% | 46% |
| Lib Dem | 18% | 16% |
| Others | 12% | 12% |
| Net lead | 16% | 20% |
With Britain's economy facing problems in the months or years ahead, who would you most trust to deal with it in the best interests of Britain?
| 5-7 Sep | 17-Sep | 5-7 Oct | 1-3 Feb | 20 Feb | 12 Mar | 2-4 May | 29-31 Aug | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown & Darling | 61% | 56% | 43% | 33% | 38% | 43% | 30% | 30% |
| Cameron & Osborne | 27% | 18% | 28% | 36% | 34% | 40% | 40% | 39% |
| Neither/Don't know | 12% | 26% | 29% | 28% | 26% | 17% | 26% | 25% |
| Net Brown & Darling | +34% | +38% | +15% | -3% | +4% | +3% | -10% | -9% |
I am going to read out some measures which some people have suggested the government should take in response to the economic downturn. Please say in each case if it is a measure you would support or oppose and if you think it is a measure that would make a significant difference to the economic situation as it affects you and your family, or only a little difference, or no difference at all?
| Support | Would make a significant difference to the economic situation as it affects you | |
|---|---|---|
| A one-off windfall tax on energy companies | 58% | 22% |
| A temporary suspension of stamp duty on all house purchases | 70% | 30% |
| Increase public spending on measures designed to help make buying a home more affordable and to get the housing market moving again | 82% | 33% |
| A one-off payment targeted specifically at poorer families with children under 16 to help pay for higher fuel bills | 68% | 25% |
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