The ComRes survey suggests that Labour could lose centre-ground votes to Farage.
The ComRes survey suggests that Labour could lose centre-ground votes to Farage
A shocking poll published in the Independent yesterday showed that voters view the Conservatives as more right wing than UKIP.
The poll, carried out by ComRes for the Sunday Mirror and the Independent on Sunday, asked people to position themselves on a political spectrum from 0 to 10, with 0 meaning ‘very left wing’ and 10 meaning ‘very right wing’.
On this scale, UKIP’s average score was 6.6, while the Conservatives’ was 6.9. The Liberal Democrats were placed at 4.9, and Labour at 4.1.
There were some interesting disparities between the positioning of parties and their leaders; David Cameron’s average score was 6.8 and Nick Clegg’s 5.1, showing how the coalition government has compromised the standing of both leaders with their respective supporters.
Ed Miliband scored 4.1 along with his party, and Nigel Farage scored 6.6. The Green Party is viewed as the most left wing, with an average score of 4.06.
Interestingly, Conservative voters consider the Conservatives more right-wing than UKIP voters consider UKIP. Conservatives also view themselves as more right wing than UKIP voters consider themselves.
This suggests that there are shifting perspectives about the definition of right wing. The perceived elitism of the Tories and the perceived racism of UKIP seem to be equal contenders for what it means to be right wing in modern Britain.
The average voter placed themselves at 5.3, just right of centre.
The poll shows that the Labour party are perceived as being closer to the average person than the Conservatives, who are considered more right wing than Prince Charles. However the poll could still spell bad news for Milband’s party, as it suggests that UKIP are beginning to encroach on centre-left voters.
When given a choice of Cameron, Miliband, Clegg, Farage and Boris Johnson, 43 per cent of those questioned said they would choose to have a meal with Boris Johnson, compared to 15 per cent who chose Miliband. Boris was also the most popular choice to have on a pub quiz team, and to have as a contestant on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
29 per cent said that they would choose David Cameron to give them first aid in an emergency, compared with 21 per cent who chose Ed Miliband and 25 per cent who chose Nick Clegg.
Ed Miliband scored better on social issues, with 26 per cent of those questioned choosing the Labour leader to give advice to the poor on how to feed themselves, and 33 per cent choosing him to improve standards for working people.
Only three per cent of people who intend to vote for the Conservatives would most like to have a meal with Ed Miliband, and four per cent of Labour voters would choose to dine with Cameron.
A huge 44 per cent of people questioned said they would choose to spend Christmas with Boris Johnson, but only 15 per cent would choose him to administer first aid in an emergency.
The poll highlights the fact that being popular and being trusted do not always go hand in hand, and shows how unpredictable the election results remain.
Ruby Stockham is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward. Follow her on Twitter
22 Responses to “Poll shows that Conservatives are now considered more right wing than UKIP”
Keith M
Both of em in the fascist mould.
Jimmy
I stand firmly on the left. I am absolutely for most left-wing policies, however, do have some opinions which prove closer to UKIPs than they do pro-immigration parties.
Net migration is higher than natural growth (which would include births from migrant families or second/third generation immigrant-British). This is an issue not just in the sense of keeping this country Britain for the British but we’re currently going through a crisis that expands out further than just our economy.
I’ve heard mentions of UKIP thinking this country is full, but actually, if you think about it properly and link it with Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign, it absolutely is full! The housing crisis exists because there’s simply not enough homes. The average age to move out of home is 37.
If immigrants are flooding the country and living in social housing and sometimes private rented housing, then we are without a doubt going to suffer even more so from the crisis.
The bigger problems with UKIP isn’t actually the party, it’s actually that a lot of their voters are supposedly racist and of course have defected from voting Tories.
Though I still wouldn’t vote UKIP, much too right-wing for me. The best way to solve the housing crisis is to actually build houses (though immigration control would be nice too)