This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/03/theresa-may-approval-rating-sinks-as-tory-lead-shrinks-to-six-points
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Theresa May approval rating sinks as Tory lead shrinks to six points | Theresa May approval rating sinks as Tory lead shrinks to six points |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Conservative lead over Labour has shrunk to six points in the latest Opinium poll for the Observer, as Theresa May’s personal approval rating sank ahead of the final week of campaigning. | The Conservative lead over Labour has shrunk to six points in the latest Opinium poll for the Observer, as Theresa May’s personal approval rating sank ahead of the final week of campaigning. |
| The research by Opinium showed a two-point bump for Labour over the last week, narrowing the Tories’ lead in the polls by more than 13 points since the start of the campaign. | |
| Growing support for Jeremy Corbyn’s party, which has been signalled in several polls over the last week, has coincided with a major drop in support for May. | Growing support for Jeremy Corbyn’s party, which has been signalled in several polls over the last week, has coincided with a major drop in support for May. |
| The prime minister has had a bruising campaign, accused of performing a U-turn on the Tories’ flagship social care policy, ducking debates with other leaders, and on Saturday appeared at odds with her defence secretary over tax pledges. | The prime minister has had a bruising campaign, accused of performing a U-turn on the Tories’ flagship social care policy, ducking debates with other leaders, and on Saturday appeared at odds with her defence secretary over tax pledges. |
| The poll found that on balance, the campaign has given British adults a worse impression of May, with 38% saying their opinion of the prime minister is more negative than at the start of the campaign and 21% more positive. In comparison, 40% say their opinion of Corbyn is more positive now and 16% more negative. | |
| According to the Opinium research, the Tories now have 43% of the vote, while Labour have 37%. If the prediction was born out in the election, it would give the Conservatives a substantial majority. Ukip remains in fourth place on 5%, with the Liberal Democrats slipping slightly to 6% and the Greens on 2%. | |
| May’s approval rating is down from +11% last week to +6%, while Corbyn’s holds relatively steady on -12%. Though over two in five (42%) think that May would be the better prime minister, and 26% prefer Corbyn, this is a significant change from the first poll of the campaign where 49% thought May would be the best prime minister and 14% thought Corbyn was the superior option. | May’s approval rating is down from +11% last week to +6%, while Corbyn’s holds relatively steady on -12%. Though over two in five (42%) think that May would be the better prime minister, and 26% prefer Corbyn, this is a significant change from the first poll of the campaign where 49% thought May would be the best prime minister and 14% thought Corbyn was the superior option. |
| Similarly, at the start of the campaign, 44% said they were satisfied with May and 16% dissatisfied but only 20% preferred her to Corbyn. But the proportion who are satisfied with May and the proportion that prefer Corbyn are now relatively similar –34% and 33% respectively. | Similarly, at the start of the campaign, 44% said they were satisfied with May and 16% dissatisfied but only 20% preferred her to Corbyn. But the proportion who are satisfied with May and the proportion that prefer Corbyn are now relatively similar –34% and 33% respectively. |
| Apart from the rising prominence of terrorism, the research suggests other key issues in the election have remained consistently important. But the parties’ policies on health and the economy have emerged as the most like to drive voters’ decision. | |
| On Brexit, remainers are beginning to turn away from May, with 50% disapproving of the way she has handled the issue. The proportion that trust Labour on Brexit has risen from 13% to 19% throughout the campaign. | On Brexit, remainers are beginning to turn away from May, with 50% disapproving of the way she has handled the issue. The proportion that trust Labour on Brexit has risen from 13% to 19% throughout the campaign. |
| The small but steady erosion of the Tory lead comes with some pollsters believing that voters who backed Labour in 2015 are returning to the party. | The small but steady erosion of the Tory lead comes with some pollsters believing that voters who backed Labour in 2015 are returning to the party. |
| The latest Guardian/ICM poll showed a healthy 12-point lead for the Conservatives, but it showed Labour has gained a lead among the unskilled working class for the first time in the campaign. | The latest Guardian/ICM poll showed a healthy 12-point lead for the Conservatives, but it showed Labour has gained a lead among the unskilled working class for the first time in the campaign. |
| ComRes also showed more than 10% gap between the two parties, and Kantar Public published a poll on Wednesday with a slightly increased Conservative lead compared to their previous poll. The latest YouGov research had the narrowest gap between the parties so far, with the Conservatives on 42% and Labour on 39% – their highest rating in any poll since 2014. | ComRes also showed more than 10% gap between the two parties, and Kantar Public published a poll on Wednesday with a slightly increased Conservative lead compared to their previous poll. The latest YouGov research had the narrowest gap between the parties so far, with the Conservatives on 42% and Labour on 39% – their highest rating in any poll since 2014. |
| Our polling average update:> Labour at highest share since September 2014.> Tories and Labour combined at 79.5%.https://t.co/0kc6bxEFSg pic.twitter.com/nw1K2vcuJn | Our polling average update:> Labour at highest share since September 2014.> Tories and Labour combined at 79.5%.https://t.co/0kc6bxEFSg pic.twitter.com/nw1K2vcuJn |
| On Saturday the parties began their last ditch attempts to win over voters, with leaders hitting the campaign trail across the country. | On Saturday the parties began their last ditch attempts to win over voters, with leaders hitting the campaign trail across the country. |
| In Lincoln, Corbyn claimed the Conservatives’ tax plans were in chaos after Theresa May failed to back defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon, who said higher earners will not face an income tax hike under a new Tory government. | In Lincoln, Corbyn claimed the Conservatives’ tax plans were in chaos after Theresa May failed to back defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon, who said higher earners will not face an income tax hike under a new Tory government. |
| Fallon had said voting Conservative in the election was “the only way” people could be sure income tax would not go up, going further than the party’s manifesto, which said they would keep taxes “low” but did not rule out a rise in income tax. | Fallon had said voting Conservative in the election was “the only way” people could be sure income tax would not go up, going further than the party’s manifesto, which said they would keep taxes “low” but did not rule out a rise in income tax. |
| Campaigning in West Yorkshire, May declined to be drawn into Fallon’s comments, saying only it was their “firm intention” to reduce taxes for ordinary families. | Campaigning in West Yorkshire, May declined to be drawn into Fallon’s comments, saying only it was their “firm intention” to reduce taxes for ordinary families. |
| “Our position on tax hasn’t changed. We have set it out in the manifesto,” she said. “What people will know when they go to vote on Thursday is that it is the Conservative party that always has been, is and always will be a low-tax party. | “Our position on tax hasn’t changed. We have set it out in the manifesto,” she said. “What people will know when they go to vote on Thursday is that it is the Conservative party that always has been, is and always will be a low-tax party. |
| “It is our firm intention to reduce taxes for ordinary working families.” | “It is our firm intention to reduce taxes for ordinary working families.” |
| Her comments were seized on by Corbyn, who said the Conservative leadership was in disarray. “I think there’s complete chaos going on at the top of the government,” he told reporters. | Her comments were seized on by Corbyn, who said the Conservative leadership was in disarray. “I think there’s complete chaos going on at the top of the government,” he told reporters. |
| “One minister says they’re going to give no more tax rises, indeed possibly tax reductions for the very wealthiest, then they can’t answer the question about tax rises for the rest of the population, then they can’t answer the questions about funding social care.” | “One minister says they’re going to give no more tax rises, indeed possibly tax reductions for the very wealthiest, then they can’t answer the question about tax rises for the rest of the population, then they can’t answer the questions about funding social care.” |
| Liberal Democrat former business secretary Sir Vince Cable said that if the Conservatives were ruling out income tax rises, they would have to find the revenue from elsewhere to meet their spending commitment. | Liberal Democrat former business secretary Sir Vince Cable said that if the Conservatives were ruling out income tax rises, they would have to find the revenue from elsewhere to meet their spending commitment. |
| “Since they are ruling out increases in income, corporate tax and VAT, we must assume that there will be an increase in national insurance and in various ‘stealth taxes’ yet to be specified. It undoubtedly raises suspicions,” Cable said. | “Since they are ruling out increases in income, corporate tax and VAT, we must assume that there will be an increase in national insurance and in various ‘stealth taxes’ yet to be specified. It undoubtedly raises suspicions,” Cable said. |
| Meanwhile Corbyn continued to face criticism for refusing to say whether he would launch a retaliatory nuclear strike during Friday’s BBC Question Time leaders special. While Labour officially backs the renewal of Trident, Corbyn has spoken against it in the past, and repeatedly dodged the question of whether he would “push the button” when pressed by the audience on Friday night. | Meanwhile Corbyn continued to face criticism for refusing to say whether he would launch a retaliatory nuclear strike during Friday’s BBC Question Time leaders special. While Labour officially backs the renewal of Trident, Corbyn has spoken against it in the past, and repeatedly dodged the question of whether he would “push the button” when pressed by the audience on Friday night. |
| May also faced a string of hostile questions, coming under sustained pressure over the Conservative party’s record on public sector pay, mental health services and social care. She faced particular scrutiny after a nurse confronted her over the 1% pay increase received by NHS staff, to which she responded: “I’m being honest with you saying we will put more money in, but there isn’t a magic money tree that we can shake to get everything we want.” | May also faced a string of hostile questions, coming under sustained pressure over the Conservative party’s record on public sector pay, mental health services and social care. She faced particular scrutiny after a nurse confronted her over the 1% pay increase received by NHS staff, to which she responded: “I’m being honest with you saying we will put more money in, but there isn’t a magic money tree that we can shake to get everything we want.” |
| The leaders continue their media appearances on Sunday, with Lib Dem leader Tim Farron scheduled to appear on the Andrew Marr show. | The leaders continue their media appearances on Sunday, with Lib Dem leader Tim Farron scheduled to appear on the Andrew Marr show. |