Brown 'out of favour with public'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8084095.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Fewer people think Gordon Brown is decisive, tough or in touch with people than at any time in his premiership, a poll for the BBC suggests.

Faith in Labour's ability to run the economy also fell, with 26% saying they trusted the party to handle it.

Conservative leader David Cameron outscored the prime minister across a range of leadership qualities.

ICM surveyed 1,005 adults by telephone between 29 and 31 May ahead of the local and European elections.

Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, fared better than last year.

All three main parties have come under attack in recent weeks over MPs' expenses claims, while Gordon Brown has come under growing pressure within his party with the resignation of his home secretary and four ministers.

PARTY LEADER POLL In touch with ordinary people: Brown 29%, Cameron 51%, Clegg 48%Trustworthy: Brown 39%, Cameron 51%, Clegg 47%Competent: Brown 40%, Cameron 66%, Clegg 45%Respected around world: Brown 32%, Cameron 36%, Clegg 18%Arrogant: Brown 48%, Cameron 39%, Clegg 18%Too concerned with spin: Brown 52%, Cameron 53%, Clegg 32% <i>2009 ICM poll of 1,005 adults</i>

ICM asked similar questions to those posed in previous polls, also at the time of local elections.

The survey results painted a more favourable impression of Mr Cameron than at any time during his leadership.

More than half (66%) thought he was competent, 63% decisive and 51% in touch with ordinary people. However only 36% thought he was respected around the world.

Fewer people (39%) found him arrogant than last year while 53% felt he was still too concerned with public relations and spin.

The prime minister did not fare as well with less than a third (29%) saying he was in touch with ordinary people, 31% decisive and 36% tough.

He was also rated worse than last year on competence and trustworthiness.

PARTY POLL Good team of leaders: Lab 23%, Cons 39%, Lib Dems 24%Trusted to run NHS: Lab 33%, Cons 30%, Lib Dems 23%Trusted to run economy: Lab 26%, Cons 36%, Lib Dems 19%A divided party: Lab 59%, Cons 35%, Lib Dems 27%Sleazy: Lab 62%, Cons 55%, Lib Dems 39% <i>2009 ICM poll of 1,005 adults</i>

However, nearly a third (32%) felt he was respected around the world, up 4% from a year ago.

Meanwhile Mr Clegg's image has improved since last year, with more people (48%) considering him to be in touch with ordinary people, and 47% saying he was trustworthy.

More of those polled found him to be decisive (38%) and competent (45%) than last year.

The poll also asked for views on the three main parties.

Only 26% said they trusted Labour to run Britain's economy, a drop of six points compared with last year.

The proportion who trust the Conservatives with the job stands at 36%, unchanged from last year.

However, this is lower than levels recorded for the party in 2006 and 2007, and below the level of trust invested in Labour in earlier years.

Meanwhile, despite praise for Vince Cable's performance as treasury spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, 19% trust the party to run the economy - the same level of support as last year.