The public finally turns against austerity
The public's patience with the government's austerity programme appears to finally be running out, after a new poll showed a majority now opposed it.
The ComRes poll for the Independent found 58% believed the government's economic plan had failed and just 31% disagreed.
Unfortunately for Labour, that opposition was not turning into backing for the opposition's proposals.
Labour's ten point lead from last month has been slashed to just six points, with the party on 38% to the Tories' 32%. If repeated at a general election it would hand Labour a majority of 78%.
The survey found 46% disagree the Tories should be re-elected, while 44% think they should be re-elected.
However, a YouGov National Policy Monitor study from the University of Essex found Ed Miliband to be the most popular of the three main political leaders.
That was conducted before a Radio 4 interview yesterday saw him repeatedly avoid the question of whether he would borrow more as prime minister.
Speaking at the weekend, minister without portfolio and former chancellor Ken Clarke admitted the economy was "bouncing along the bottom".
