Public split on economic strategy (but don’t want Osborne)

The latest round of opinion polls for The Sun and Daily Mirror agree on the likelihood of a hung parliament but contain mixed messages on the economy. Depending on how they are asked, the public favour both Labour’s approach to protecting the recovery and the Conservative’s approach to cut spending now. Both polls, however, show that George Osborne is the third most popular candidate for Chancellor (a finding undiscussed by The Sun).

Today’s Ipsos-MORI poll in Daily Mirror says:

“First, 56% of those questioned think Labour is right to say public spending should not be cut immediately in case it risks the economic recovery. Mr Osborne wants to start slashing straight away. Second, only 32% say the Tories are right to claim the national debt is the greatest threat to the economy.”

Talking about the Mirror poll on last night’s Newsnight, Michael Crick said:

“Interestingly, some of the polling evidence suggests that the political pressure on Labour to [cut the deficit], as opposed to the economic and financial pressure, may not be what it was…

“It looks to an extent that Labour [is winning the argument] which partly explains why the Conservatives in recent months have modified their position.”

Meanwhile The Sun says:

“A YouGov poll for The Sun found a clear majority want Alistair Darling to start tackling the crippling £900billion national debt. Voters are demanding spending cuts NOW to pay for it.

“On spending cuts our poll shows 46 per cent agree “the longer they delay the worse it will get”. Just 36 per cent say the Chancellor should postpone taking action so the recovery is not affected – Labour’s policy now.”

The so-called “clear majority” is actually a 45:36 margin (it’s unclear where 46% came from) – somewhat lower than the 56:32 margin in the Mirror.

Both polls ask voters to rank the three contenders for Chancellor. The Mirror says:

“Asked who would make the most capable Chancellor, only 21% said Mr Osborne. The Lib Dem’s Vince Cable scored 32% and Mr Darling got 23%”

The YouGov poll found 23% for Cable, 17% for Darling, and just 13% for Osborne. The Sun did not publish these findings.

Another example of The Sun manipulating the facts appears when they state:

“In more bad news for Mr Darling, 54 per cent say he should lower the debt with spending cuts not tax rises, which he prefers.”

Of course, Mr Darling’s position (and that of the Tories) is actually that the deficit should be reduced through a combination of both spending cuts and tax rises. Only the Lib Dems want to see the deficit reduced entirely from spending cuts. As Left Foot Forward has shown previously, when the public are given a proper range of options including a mix of spending cuts and tax rises, there is a majority in favour of some tax rises.

http://twitter.com/maximusmanc/status/10973489425 Max p

RT @leftfootfwd: What you won't read in The Sun: Public split on economic strategy (but don't want Osborne) http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
http://twitter.com/bencooper86/status/10973530982 Ben Cooper

RT @leftfootfwd: What you won't read in The Sun: Public split on economic strategy (but don't want Osborne) http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9 < good read
http://twitter.com/meadwaj/status/10973554871 James Meadway

RT @leftfootfwd: What you won't read in The Sun: Public split on economic strategy (but don't want Osborne) http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/10973579257 Will Straw

Why did The Sun suppress finding that Osborne was least popular candidate for Chancellor? http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
http://twitter.com/leicesterliz/status/10973759123 Liz Kendall

RT @wdjstraw: Why did The Sun suppress finding that Osborne was least popular candidate for Chancellor? http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
http://twitter.com/f8vnz/status/10973774677 Philip Painter

RT @leftfootfwd: What you won't read in The Sun: Public split on economic strategy (but don't want Osborne) http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
http://twitter.com/cllrjsb/status/10973781549 John Blackmore

@vriyait as I said RT @wdjstraw y did The Sun suppress finding that Osborne was least popular candidate for Chancellor? http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
http://twitter.com/tankthetories/status/10973903330 Tank the Tories

RT @leftfootfwd: What you won't read in The Sun: Public split on economic strategy (but don't want Osborne) http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
http://twitter.com/davidwearing/status/10973936500 David Wearing

RT @wdjstraw: Why did The Sun suppress finding that Osborne was least popular candidate for Chancellor? http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
http://twitter.com/ollygrender/status/10973973272 Olly Grender

Hilarious @LeftFootFwd attacks the Sun for hiding poll info re Darling/Cable/Osbourne but does same in pictures here http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
http://twitter.com/jo_cox1/status/10974352991 Jo Cox

RT @willstraw Why did The Sun suppress finding Osborne was least popular candidate for Chancellor? http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9 #notimeforanovice
Konnolsky

Here in my butcher’s shop in Smolensk, where assistant Yuri is take short break (don’t worry, I deduct from pay), we are laugh at your well hung parliaments. You silly Englishes! Why is not take model of managed democracy from most excellent Vlad – he is throw your Gordon Brown with excellent judo move and no mistakes. Here is no need for constipation government, or whatever is. Instead, result is know before ballots place in box, which is many efficient, give continuities of governing, and let me get on with business of run shop and also sell small consignments black market vodka and other cummerbund (is right word?) in local bar, The Happy Kalashnikov.

And opinion polls and approvals! It is shame of your politics classes that they have small percentage of public liking them. Though I am suspect it because they are all look so bad. The one who is call himself Darling is under ridiculous delusion as he is less a darling than Olga the babushka who is stand outside my shop every day and has beard and no tooths. Sir Winch Cable is remind me of Cousin Dmitri, who win prestigious Ugliest Man in Volga Region award. While Osborne is famous bad looking, what with hair and glasses and shaking hands and diet of bat (though can be good if eat with radishes), and have annoying wife who is say drivel on your Western freak shows. They need makings over from Putin, who is well sex.
http://twitter.com/hanlemic/status/10976775191 Michael Hanley

RT @wdjstraw: Why did The Sun suppress finding that Osborne was least popular candidate for Chancellor? http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
Graeme Kemp

I’ve always been quite impressed with Vince Cable.
http://twitter.com/blogsoftheworld/status/10981973166 blogs of the world

Today's opinion polls contain mixed messages on the economy. But George Osborne is the thi… http://reduce.li/lwrb92 #split
Liz McShane

Konnolsky – are you for real or Borat in disguise?
http://twitter.com/britishcitizen/status/10990225090 A British Citizen

RT @leftfootfwd: Public split on economic strategy (but don't want Osborne – there's a surprise!) http://bit.ly/a5CrZ9
http://theredroosterherald.wordpress.com Caitlin Fitzmaurice

This is most likely because, in my opinion, George Osborne is so utterly inexperience and the electorate see through him regardless of the Tory PR machine.

http://bit.ly/3WwF8z