‘Anti-establishment’ mood isn’t helping Labour
By Alex Stevenson Follow @alex__stevenson
The coalition is enduring its worst approval ratings as the phone-hacking scandal continues – but Labour is struggling to capitalise.
Just 29% are now satisfied with the government, down from 36% in June. Dissatisfaction has risen to 63%.
But July's political monitor by Ipsos Mori for Reuters found that the opposition were unchanged on 39%. The Liberal Democrats were also static at 11%, with the Conservatives seeing a five-point drop in support to five per cent.
The phone-hacking scandal has had an impact on Labour leader Ed Miliband's standing, however. His satisfaction ratings, although still negative, now mirror David Cameron's at the same stage in his period in opposition.
Disillusionment with the system is reflected in the fact that a significant minority, 41%, believe the scandal will blow over in a few months with no significant impact.
Fifty-one per cent thought it would lead to major changes in public life in Britain, however.
"This 'anti-establishment' sentiment was also expressed in the immediate aftermath of the expenses scandal in 2009," Ipsos Mori said.
It said that the "main beneficiaries of dissatisfaction with the Conservatives" were the smaller parties.
Nearly one in five of those 'certain to vote' said they would back a party other than the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats or Labour at the next general election.
