Satisfaction with George Osborne as Chancellor dips, but is seen as more capable than his Labour rival

With just one month to go until the Government’s next budget announcement Ipsos reveals for the first time since 2013 more of the public are dissatisfied than satisfied with the way George Osborne is doing his job as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The new poll finds that two in five (40%) are satisfied with Mr Osborne (down 4 points from July) compared to 46% who are dissatisfied (up 2 points) leaving the Chancellor with a net satisfaction score of -6 (down 6 points).

 

George Osborne receives resounding backing from supporters of his own party. Three in four (75%) Conservatives are satisfied with the Chancellor (17% dissatisfied) compared to 22% of Labour supporters (69% dissatisfied), three in ten (30%) Liberal Democrats (62% dissatisfied) and 43% of UKIP supporters (48% dissatisfied).

Despite the dip in personal satisfaction ratings for George Osborne he holds a strong lead over his counterpart John McDonnell of the Labour Party. When asked who would make the most capable Chancellor 46% of the public back George Osborne compared to three in ten (29%) who back John McDonnell. This is bigger than any lead George Osborne had over Ed Balls. Among non-Labour supporters George Osborne is well ahead by 70% to 12%, while John McDonnell has a smaller lead among non-Conservatives at 47% to 26%, rising to 65% to 13% among Labour voters.

 

George Osborne may be fighting against an increasing perception that the economy is getting worse. When asked if the general economic condition of the country will improve, stay the same, or get worse over the next 12 months, one in four (25%) say it will improve (down 1 point from January) compared to 44% who say it will get worse (up 5 points). One in four (26%) believe it will stay the same (down 5 points). This leaves the overall Economic Optimism Index (‘will improve’ minus ‘get worse’) at -19 (down 6 points).

 

David Cameron has seen a slight decline in his overall satisfaction ratings in the past month. Two in five (39%) say they are satisfied with the Prime Minister doing his job (down 3 points) although half (54%) say they are dissatisfied (up 3 points). Mr Cameron still receives strong support from his own party where four in five (79%) Conservatives are satisfied with him doing his job (17% dissatisfied). There’s been little change in Jeremy Corbyn’s rating where three in ten (30%) say they are satisfied with the Labour leader (down 1 point) and half (51%) are dissatisfied (up 2 points). More than half (56%) of Labour’s own supporters are satisfied with Mr Corbyn doing his job while three in ten (31%) say they are dissatisfied. When it comes to the UKIP leader one in three (33%) say they are satisfied with Nigel Farage and just under half (48%) are dissatisfied. Tim Farron, however, is yet to make any breakthrough with voters. One in five (20%) say they are satisfied with the Liberal Democrat Leader and one in three (34%) are dissatisfied. Just under half (46%) say they ‘don’t know’.

 

Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos, said:

"The record levels of economic optimism generated before the election have long gone, which has seen a slip in the Chancellor’s personal ratings (although still above his worst during the ‘omnishambles crisis’). But he is still ahead of Labour’s John McDonnell among nearly every group, other than young people and Labour supporters.”

• Download the survey topline (PDF)
• Download the computer tables (PDF)
• Download the charts (PDF)

Technical note

Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,001 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. Interviews were conducted by telephone 13-16 February 2016. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.