New poll suggests Labour limited McBride email damage
By politics.co.uk staff
Labour appears to have limited the damage from the Damian McBride email scandal, holding their position in a new Guardian/ICM poll.
The Tories keep a ten point lead over the governing party, but they are surging ahead in the economic stakes, with 45 per cent saying they trusted the David Cameron – George Osborne team with the economy.
That compared to 35 per cent who said they trusted Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling.
Labour’s support held steady at 30 per cent. The Tories dropped two percentage points to 40 per cent. The Liberal Democrats dropped one percentage point to 19 per cent.
Those findings are not reflected in the latest Ipsos/Mori poll, out today, which showed the Tories down one on 41 per cent, Labour down four on 28 per cent and the Lib Dems shooting up eight points with 22 per cent.
Even this poll gives the Tories a significant lead on the economy, however, with 30 per cent over Labour’s 25 per cent.
The ICM poll indicates commentators may have overstated the damage of the Damian McBride email scandal on Labour’s fortunes, although even on this poll, which is more optimistic for Labour than most, Gordon Brown has not enjoyed a bounce due to his G20 success.
Today’s figures represent a real reversal in the party’s fortunes. Previously, the Conservatives were behind on economic competence even while they shot ahead in general support.
