Tory support dips after conference
By Ian Dunt
Conservative support has dipped slightly following the party’s conference in Manchester.
A Populus poll for the Times today found the party’s rating had slipped by one per cent since mid-September. Parties usually experience a short-lived boost in the polls after a party conference, due predominantly to the sustained media coverage.
The poll puts Labour the Conservatives closer than they have been since last January, with the governing party up three points to 30 per cent, compared to the Conservatives’ 40 per cent.
The Liberal Democrats remain unchanged on 18 per cent.
Reports on David Cameron’s closing speech to the conference were mixed but most commentators agreed he failed to ‘seal the deal’.
Nevertheless, the Tories still appeared sure of victory.
Mr Cameron has increased his lead over Gordon brown as the better prime minister to deal with the recession. He now stands at 45 per cent to Mr Brown’s 30 per cent. That compares badly to Mr Brown’s strong lead last year, during the early stages of the crisis.
Mr Cameron and his shadow chancellor George Osborne also lead Mr Brown and chancellor Alistair Darling. Labour could not even retain support among public sector workers, following much talk of cuts over the conference season.
Fifty-seven per cent of respondents expect a Tory majority after the election.
