Gordon Brown’s popularity has risen 6 points to 35 per cent in the last 18 months, with David Cameron's popularity down 9 points to 45 per cent.
After Labour’s landslide victory in 1997, the Conservative Party struggled to find a smooth and marketable leader whom the public would find attractive. William Hague’s baby face and baldness did him no favours with the press, nor did his experiments with a baseball cap.
IDS is barely remembered and Michael Howard often needed to justify why he was running for Prime Minister and not spending more time with his grandchildren.
When David Cameron was chosen party leader in 2005, the Conservatives now had an electoral asset. He looked more like Tony Blair and his popularity ratings were higher than those of his party.
It now seems however that David Cameron’s shine is rubbing off. An Ipsos Mori poll that was mentioned by UK Polling Report but barely noticed by the mainstream press shows that:
• David Cameron’s popularity has dropped 9 points to 45% since the last time this question was asked back in the summer of 2008.
Cameron’s popularity, at that time, was 54% – 12 points higher than that of his party.
• Gordon Brown’s popularity has risen 6 points to 35% in the last 18 months.
It is still 3 points lower than Labour at 38% but a solid improvement nonetheless.
Although there is no clear cut explanation for this trend, some polls suggest that whilst Cameron does well on some personality tests, he falls down on poll questions which ask whether the Leader of the Opposition is ‘all spin not substance’.
This was picked up both by a YouGov poll in September 2009 and a Guardian ICM poll in November 2009.
This shouldn’t be too surprising. Conservative lightness on policy is something regularly commented on – even by the Tory faithful; this week it was the turn of James Forsyth, deputy editor (online) of the Spectator.
Overall, it raises the question of whether the constituents of Bethnal Green and Bow are the voice of the future when recently at Aldgate East Tube Station they suggested to Cameron that he might care to go back to Eton.
Our guest writer is Felix Grenfell Bozek, an intern at the Fabian Society
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
21 Responses to “Cameron’s popularity slips as Brown’s rises”
Felix Grenfell Bozek
Rather than condoning the vandalism of Conservative posters, the important question I feel is whether or not it is a coincidence that this piece of obscene graffiti was written at a time when the popularity of Cameron and the Conservatives is slipping? Is this evidence supporting recent poll findings? I suppose for a definite answer we would have to ask the writer.
On the issue of does this post perpetuate personality politics, I would suggest that in drawing attention to some polling data that indicates that the public feel Cameron is more personality than politics, the post in fact decries the perpetuation of personality politics.
Swagata
How can the actions of a grafitti artist define the political mood? It makes for a good laugh but it’s got little to do with the polls. How come you excluded Nick Clegg, was that deliberate or an oversight?
Liberal Conspiracy » Political blogs and their influence
[…] are just the facts. As Left Foot Forward points out, Cameron’s popularity is falling while Brown’s is […]
NOTORYUS
Cameron’s popularity slips as Brown’s rises: http://is.gd/85FIM > Its time to lay Cameron to rest. #ToryRIP
Leroy Miller
RT @N0TORYUS: Cameron’s popularity slips as Brown’s rises: http://is.gd/85FIM > Its time to lay Cameron to rest. #ToryRIP