Labour best on jobs and economy, say voters


by Don Paskini    
3:16 pm - September 26th 2011

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New polling by Lord Ashcroft reveals that the number one issue for voters is jobs and the economy – and that voters think that Labour would do best in dealing with this issue. Ashcroft’s polling also showed Labour well ahead in marginal constituencies which were won by the Tories in 2010, and found that Lib Dem support holding up strongly in marginal constituencies where they are the main opposition to the Tories.

Ashcroft argues that voters “struggle to see” the connection between deficit reduction and economic recovery, and that, “It seems to many that we are pursuing deficit reduction at the expense of growth and job creation (and other things they think are important) rather than as a means to it.” This will be rather a surprise to Westminster bubble commentators who regularly assert that voters’ top concern is the deficit.

Amongst the other findings:

- Labour are ahead of the Tories on “shares my values” and “on the side of ordinary people”, whereas the Tories are felt to be stronger on “willing to take tough decisions” and “competent and capable”.

- The top issues for voters are jobs and the economy, NHS, immigration, deficit and education. Issues such as “reducing welfare dependency”, Europe and the environment are lower priorities.

- Voters felt that Labour had the best policies on the economy and jobs, NHS, education. The Tories were ahead on defence, crime, immigration, the deficit and Europe, though their advantage on crime was much lower than in previous surveys. Voters backed the Lib Dems on one policy area – the environment.

- David Cameron was preferred as best Prime Minister to Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg.

The full results can be found here.

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About the author
Don Paskini is deputy-editor of LC. He also blogs at donpaskini. He is on twitter as @donpaskini
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Reader comments


1. Watchman

Can we be accurate here – the Ashcroft polls are specifically of marginal constituencies, not all voters.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

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  2. Don Paskini

    Labour best on jobs and economy, say voters http://t.co/62bPwr2j

  3. Boris Watch

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  4. Michael Bater

    Labour best on jobs and economy, say voters | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/QsZaPQbL via @libcon

  5. Alex Braithwaite

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  6. Scott

    RT @libcon: Labour best on jobs and economy http://t.co/qx6w2ovG < Which proves nothing other than the public can spot Osborne as a fraud

  7. Howard Dartnall

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  8. Noxi

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  9. Thomas Byrne

    Labour best on jobs and economy, say voters | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/uEUUWnKT

  10. Owain Gardner

    Labour best on jobs and economy, say voters | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/uEUUWnKT

  11. Nicolas Redfern

    RT @ByrneToff Labour best on jobs and economy, say voters | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/vcxI4eh7





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