George Osborne’s ratings plunge after Budget and Jeremy Corbyn is more popular than PM

Plummeting ratings: George Osborne
Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament/PA Wire
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George Osborne's ratings have plunged, according to exclusive polling taken before and after his disastrous eighth Budget.

The full scale of the damage is revealed in Ipsos MORI research showing public hostility has grown towards the Chancellor, his policies and even David Cameron.

Among the findings that will agonise Mr Osborne’s supporters:

Six in 10 people are dissatisfied with Mr Osborne, including a third of Conservative supporters, compared with 46 per cent of the public in the month before the Budget.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who led opposition to cuts in disability benefits, has enjoyed a surge in his ratings, overtaking David Cameron.

Mr Osborne’s Budget was the most unpopular since 2010 for the country, with majorities saying it was bad for the country and bad for the next generation.

Jeremy Corbyn is more popular than the Prime Minister, according to the poll

The biggest negative gap since 2010 has opened between the proportion of people who think government policies will improve the economy in the long-term and those who think they won’t.

The Conservative lead over Labour has narrowed to just two points, at 36 per cent — down three points — to 34 points, up one point.

The findings complete a week of misery for Mr Osborne, who has been forced to downgrade his growth targets, abandon planned cuts to disability benefits, endure criticism from former welfare minister Iain Duncan Smith and look for ways to fill a £4 billion black hole in his finances.

A month before the Budget, Mr Cameron’s satisfaction rating beat that of Mr Corbyn by 39 to 30. Now, however, the Labour leader is narrowly ahead, by 35 to 34.

Before last year’s general election, marginally more people were satisfied with Mr Osborne’s performance — 43 per cent — than were dissatisfied — 42 per cent — making him one of the Conservative party’s key assets.

However, after months of growing economic pessimism, the figures were 40 per cent dissatisfied and 46 per cent satisfied.

However, the post-Budget poll reveals that the public have turned hard against Mr Osborne, with 60 per cent dissatisfied and just 27 per cent satisfied.

Only 43 per cent think his policies will improve Britain’s economy in the long-term, while 49 per cent disagree, the worst result since Mr Osborne moved into the Treasury in 2010.

Four out of 10 people think the Budget was bad for them — the highest proportion since 2012, the year of the so-called “omnishambles Budget”.

More than half, 53 per cent, think it was bad for the country, while just 30 per cent thought it was good, the worst net rating for 20 years.

Mr Osborne’s mantra that his Budget was good for the “next generation” was also a flop.

Only 29 per cent agreed, while 53 per cent said it was bad for them, with middle-aged and older people the most critical.

Only 23 per cent think the economy will improve in the year ahead, while 40 per cent think it will get worse.

A silver lining for the Chancellor is that his tax on sugary soft drinks is supported by seven in 10 people. However, the now abandoned disabled benefit cuts were opposed by an overwhelming 84 per cent.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI, said: “It’s been one of the worst weeks for the Conservatives since they were elected.

"Public reaction to the Budget is in 2012 ‘omnishambles’ territory, and on some measures even worse, while also dragging David Cameron’s personal ratings to their lowest for three years.

“The drop in confidence in the Government’s long-term economic plan — crucial to their election victory — is another cause for concern, but only if Labour can take advantage.”

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