No Labour conference bounce for Keir Starmer as Tories EXTEND lead in poll… despite Boris Johnson being engulfed in fuel chaos
- Keir Starmer has not had a bounce from Labour conference in Brighton last week
- Tories extended their advantage in poll despite both main parties losing support
- Boris Johnson kicking off Conservatives’ annual gathering in Manchester today
Keir Starmer failed to register a conference bounce last week despite the fuel chaos engulfing Boris Johnson, according to a poll today.
Labour lost ground on the Tories as both parties shipped support, with a relatively well-received speech by Sir Keir showing no signs of winning over voters.
His party was down two points on 35 per cent, while the Conservatives were down one on 39 per cent.
Sir Keir’s personal ratings were also almost unmoved on a net score of minus five in the Opinium research, after he spent much of his time in Brighton facing down hard-Left elements.
However, while Downing Street will be relieved at the findings as the Tories kick off their own conference in Manchester, they will also be alarmed at some of the underlying figures.
More than two thirds – 69 per cent – think the government has responded badly to the HGV driver shortage.
Labour lost ground on the Tories as both parties shipped support, with a relatively well-received speech by Sir Keir showing no signs of winning over voters
Boris Johnson was out for a run in Manchester today as the Tory conference kicks off
Two thirds blame ministers for the crisis, and Brexit is held responsible by a third – – more than the 16 per cent who believe the pandemic is the main cause.
Some 63 per cent say they have been directly impacted by the crisis, with problems at supermarkets and petrol stations the most common issue – although only 12 per cent reported a major impact.
The survey was carried out mostly after Sir Keir delivered his speech to conference last Wednesday.
Adam Drummond, Head of Political Polling at Opinium, said: ‘This week saw a successful conference speech for Keir Starmer and another bad week of headlines for the government.
‘Yet, the early data from after the conference, with most of the fieldwork taking place immediately after the leader’s speech on Wednesday, saw the Conservatives retain a narrow lead and Starmer’s approval ratings hold stubbornly in negative territory.
‘This is despite a crisis that voters both directly blame the government for handling poorly and also blame its flagship policy of Brexit for contributing to.
‘It appears Labour has yet to demonstrate that it would be an improvement on the current government, despite its flaws.’
:: Opinium Research surveyed 2,004 UK adults online between September 29 and October 1
A relatively well-received conference speech by Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) shows no signs of having won over voters
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