Clegg moves ahead of Ed in the ComRes leader ratings

A ComRes opinion poll for The Independent on Sunday andSunday Mirror tomorrow suggests that Labour would do better if David Miliband were leader — although the difference is only three points.

The normal voting intention figures (how would you vote if there were a general election tomorrow) are:

CON 38% +2

LAB 38%  -2

LD  13%   -1

OTH 11%   +1

(Change since last ComRes/IoS/S Mirror online poll in December.)

Comres then asked how people would vote if the following were Labour leader, and this is what happened to the Labour lead (zero under Ed Miliband):

David Miliband  +3

Ed Balls            -6

Tony Blair         -6

Alistair Darling -13

Harriet Harman -15

Yvette Cooper   -20

Chuka Umunna -26

If David Miliband were leader, the vote shares are Lab 38%, Con 35%, Lib Dem 9% — but the “Others” figure goes up to 18%, which suggests that changing the Labour leader reminds voters that there might be other options.

With David Miliband as leader, Labour attracts support from 8% of Tory voters and 15% of Liberal Democrats.

The personal ratings of both coalition party leaders have improved sharply since last month while EdM’s have slipped.

David Cameron is turning out to be a good prime minister

Agree 34% (last month 27%)

Disagree 43% (52%)

Net agree -9 (-25)

Ed Miliband is turning out to be a good leader of the Labour Party

Agree 18% (last month 20%)

Disagree 53% (52%)

Net agree -35 (-32)

Nick Clegg is turning out to be a good leader of the Liberal Democrats

Agree 22% (last month 18%)

Disagree 54% (61%)

Net agree -32 (-43)

Mike Smithson @MikeSmithsonOGH