Miliband's image improves, but still behind Cameron on key leadership qualities
Miliband’s image improves, but still behind Cameron on key leadership qualities
Although he trails the Prime Minister on most aspects and is lowest of the three leaders on likeability, Ed Miliband’s image has improved since last December, especially when it comes to understanding the problems facing Britain
Cameron has clearest vision for Britain, most capable and best in crisis but also seen as out of touch
Nick Clegg is seen as likeable but also more style than substance
Newly released data from the Reuters/Ipsos Political Monitor shows that Ed Miliband still trails David Cameron, who is seen as a more capable leader and better in a crisis. This is despite an improvement in the Labour leader’s image since the end of last year. The data comes on the day of his address to the Labour Party conference.
Three in five people (59%) think the Prime Minister is a capable leader while only 37% say the same of the Labour leader and 31% of the Deputy Prime Minister. Around twice as many people think David Cameron is good in a crisis (47%) than Ed Miliband (24%) or Nick Clegg (22%). This is an improvement for David Cameron on his perceived ability in a crisis from the end of last year (41%).
Ed Miliband also has some work to do to set out a clear vision for Britain. The Prime Minister is seen having the clearest vision for Britain (57%) compared to 37% who say that Ed Miliband has a clear vision and 33% for Nick Clegg.
Although he trails David Cameron, Ed Miliband is seen as a more capable leader and better in a crisis than at the end of last year. Ed Miliband’s strongest attribute is understanding the problems facing Britain – roughly the same proportion say this about the Labour leader as for David Cameron (52% and 54% respectively).
Further, Ed Miliband is seen as most in touch with ordinary people. Almost two-thirds of the public (63%) say the Conservative leader is out of touch while half say the same of Nick Clegg (52%) but fewer say that Ed Miliband is out of touch (43%). Moreover, both David Cameron and Nick Clegg are seen as more style than substance (both 52%) than Ed Miliband (41%) – although they are also seen as more likeable than the Labour leader.
All three leaders are now seen as more out of touch with ordinary people than at the end of last year, however.
Conservative voters are significantly more positive about their leader than Labour supporters or Liberal Democrats. Nine in ten (92%) Conservative voters say David Cameron is a capable leader while six in ten (62%) Labour supporters say the same of Ed Miliband. Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are more likely to think their respective leaders are likeable than Labour supporters (84%, 85% and 60% respectively). Twice as many Conservative voters as Labour voters say that their leader is good in a crisis (80% compared to 42%).
Ipsos’s Gideon Skinner, said:
‘This poll shows that Ed Miliband’s conference speech has to help him achieve a number of goals: mapping out his vision for Britain, boosting the support of the party faithful and painting him as a competent and credible future Prime Minister. He must do all this whilst building on his image as a leader who understands the lives of ordinary Britons.’
Notes to Editors:
Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,008 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. Interviews were conducted by telephone 10-12 September 2011. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. Details of our previous release can be found here: /researchpublications/researcharchive/2860/ReutersIpsos-MORI-September-2011-Political-Monitor.aspx
Ipsos will be releasing new polling data at several Party Conferences 2011 fringe events including:
Beyond the Bubble: the voters’ verdict, events co-hosted with Reuters to explore what the public really thinks about the parties and their leaders. Speakers include David Davis MP, Hilary Benn MP, Chuka Umunna MP, Simon Hughes MP, Lord Rennard and Isabel Oakeshott from The Sunday Times.
The RSA’s fringe events where Ipsos CEO Ben Page will be speaking as well as Andrew Lansley MP, Yvette Cooper MP and Tristram Hunt MP.
Ipsos CEO, Ben Page can be available for interview.
Contact: Chloe Forbes
Senior Public Affairs and Communications Executive - Ipsos
T: 020 7347 3172
M: 075 0009 7769
E: [email protected]
