British voters remain pessimistic about the effectiveness of a new Conservative government in dealing with crime and education, despite the party recording leads across nearly every major opinion poll. A survey conducted on behalf of the Sun newspaper has revealed that the majority of the British public feel that the quality of education and crime levels will not improve under a Conservative government.
In a poll involving 1472 people, nearly half (47%) indicated that they feel the quality of education in state schools would not improve if the Conservatives were to win the coming election. With regard to crime, results were even more emphatic, as 54% felt that the number of crimes committed each year would not fall if Cameron wins this May.
Immigration and the economy
Opinion was split over whether fewer immigrant and asylum seekers would enter Britain under a Tory government, with 41% believing that fewer immigrants would enter the country if Cameron wins, while 35% believe that this wouldn’t be the case. Opinion was divided over whether Britain’s economy would grow stronger, and more people are pessimistic than optimistic; 31% state that they would expect the economy to improve, but a significantly higher number (40%) believe that Britain’s economy wouldn’t grow stronger under the Tories.
Those from higher social grades (ABC1) believe that a Conservative government would be more likely to improve the areas polled than those from lower social grades (C2DE). An eight percent difference of opinion between these two groups was recorded with regard to improving education, a five percent difference for crime, an 11% difference for immigration and a 12% difference for the economy.
Conservatives suitable for government?
The results do little to dispel the impression that the support for the Tories is traditionally found among those from higher social grades. The figures also indicate that the Conservatives have some way to go to convince the electorate of their suitability for Government, and perhaps help explain the often-narrowing gap between Labour and Tory in recent opinion polls.
For survey details and full results, please click here
