Party leaders given mixed messages
Both Iain Duncan Smith and Tony Blair have increased their standing as leaders in the past month, according to a poll in The Times.
In the paper’s regular survey, people are asked to rate party leaders on individual performance. Both Mr Blair and Mr Duncan Smith have seen their average rating for leadership rise in the past couple of months, although Iain Duncan Smith is still given the lowest average rating of the three main leaders.
However, as is often the case, the good news is countered by some bad news for each man. More than a third of Conservative voters want to see Iain Duncan Smith replaced, while it is mainly older supporters that boost his position.
Meanwhile a drop in support for the Labour party might disappoint Tony Blair. The fall is mirrored by a rise in support for the Conservatives, though the Labour Party’s lead is still strong for that of a government half way through a term of office.
While the two biggest parties and their leaders can take some comfort from the polls, the Liberal Democrats appear to be suffering. Their support has slipped three per cent on pre war levels, and Charles Kennedy was the only leader to see his standing among the public fall.
The Conservative Party may also take greater cheer from the number of people sure to vote than from their rise in popularity, which may have been caused by the timing of the poll that was conducted while they celebrated their Local election victory.
Two thirds of Conservative party voters said that they were sure to vote in the next general election, while only a little over a half of Labour and Liberal Democrat Voters said the same.
