Political Monitor

The September Political Monitor, mostly conducted during Labour's conference in Bournemouth, includes the public's detailed assessment of the best party on each of the key issues facing the country.

Ipsos's August Political Monitor puts Labour five points ahead of the Conservatives (41% vs 36%), with the Liberal Democrat share at 16%. Gordon Brown's personal rating shows 43% of the population satisfied with the way he is doing his job as Prime Minister.

Ipsos's July Political Monitor puts Labour's share of the vote six points higher than the Conservatives' (41% vs. 35%). Gordon Brown's first satisfaction rating score as prime minister is 35% satisfied and 20% dissatisfied.

Ipsos's June Political Monitor shows Labour leading the Conservatives for the first time in seven months (39% vs. 36%). The Liberal Democrats' share of the vote is down to 15%, their lowest share recorded by Ipsos since November 2001.

The May Ipsos Political Monitor finds the Conservatives' lead over Labour has narrowed by five points since April. The party now leads Labour by just two points (37% vs. 35%), the smallest Conservative lead recorded by Ipsos this year.

Ipsos's April Political Monitor shows the Conservatives leading Labour by seven points (38% vs. 31%). Ipsos has not consistently measured a Conservative lead of this size since 1992.

Ipsos's March voting intention findings, carried out face-to-face between 9-15 March amongst 1,983 British adults aged 18+, show the Conservative Party eight points ahead of Labour amongst those who say they are absolutely certain to vote.

Ipsos's first Political Monitor of 2007 shows the Conservatives leading Labour by 4 points (39% vs 35%). This puts the Tory share significantly higher than it was during most of the Autumn, and represents a swing of 3.5% from Labour since the 2005 general election.

More of the public are satisfied with the way Gordon Brown is doing his job as Chancellor of the Exchequer than are satisfied with the performance of any of the three party leaders. However, Gordon Brown's personal ratings are the lowest recorded by Ipsos since 1997 with the exception of the fuel crisis in late 2000.