The Sunday Times
The Conservatives have opened up a polling lead of 17 points, bringing an abrupt end to recent Labour hopes that the next election could result in a hung parliament. Only the Chancellor’s plan to impose taxes on bankers’ bonuses is backed by voters, with 66 per cent saying taxing high earners is fair. And Mr Cameron and George Osborne, the shadow Chancellor, have yet to convince voters that they have the right prescription to get Britain out of recession. Some 34 per cent agree they have the right ideas; 46 per cent disagree.
The Independent
Todays YouGov poll for the Sunday Times puts Labour on 31%, just nine points behind the Tories, who are on 40%. The Liberal Democrats have fallen two points to 16%. Only last weekend the Conservatives were still enjoying a comfortable 13-point lead.
The narrowing of the gap is a result partly of voters enthusiasm for the 50% tax on bankers bonuses above £25,000 announced in last weeks pre-budget report.
The one thing the two polls have in common is to show the Conservative lead is soft. But it persists.. The pollsters have a lot of explaining to do
Former BBC journalist and manager in Belfast, Manchester and London, Editor Spolight; Political Editor BBC NI; Current Affairs Commissioning editor BBC Radio 4; Editor Political and Parliamentary Programmes, BBC Westminster; former London Editor Belfast Telegraph. Hon Senior Research Fellow, The Constitution Unit, Univ Coll. London