Pollster Opinium has published its first UK voting intention survey for seven weeks for this Sunday’s Observer newspaper, with little real change to report over the holiday period. Small movements each way combine to halve the Labour opposition’s lead over the minority governing Conservatives from six to three points, but overall the changes in party share are hardly dramatic.

More significant are the responses on party leader perceptions, with Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn falling into negative territory, moving from +4 per cent to -5 per cent net approval. Corbyn’s dip is in line with other recent polling, notably last week’s YouGov survey which saw his ratings turn back into net negative numbers after his post-election surge. Back with Opinium, Prime Minister Theresa May continues to suffer huge public disapproval (48 negative to 31 per cent positive) but her net rating improves mildly from -21 per cent to ‘only’ -17 per cent.

Public opinion on the government’s approach to Brexit, however, is moving in the other direction. Trust in the Conservatives to lead the negotiations falls to just 33 per cent compared to 39 per cent in early July; meanwhile just 28 per cent approve of how Theresa May is handling Brexit, compared to 47 per cent who disapprove.

 

OPINIUM
Voting intentions, per cent
(change on 2 July in brackets):

Labour Party (Lab) 43 (-2)
Conservative Party (Con) 40 (+1)
Liberal Democrats (Lib Dem) 6 (+1)
Scottish National Party/Plaid Cymru (SNP/PC) 5 (+1)
UK Independence Party (UKIP) 4 (-1)
Green Party 2 (nc)
Others 1 (+1)

Fieldwork: 15.08-18.08.2017. Release date: 19.08.2017. Participants: 2006. Method: Online poll. Media partner: The Observer. Full tables here.

 

FOLLOW EPR on Twitter here.

SHARE this article: