Satisfaction with chancellor George Osborne dips but we still rate him higher than shadow chancellor John McDonnell
This probably isn't the news George Osborne wanted to receive just a month before he's due to deliver his Budget speech: more people in Great Britain are now unhappy than happy with the chancellor's performance.
According to results of a poll released today by Ipsos MORI, 46 per cent of people say they are dissatisfied with Osborne's track record, compared to just 40 per cent who say they are satisfied, the first time since 2013 that his ratings have tipped into the negative.
By comparison, when the same question was asked in July, 44 per cent of people were happy with how Osborne was doing, and, likewise 44 per cent were unhappy.
However, Osborne is still leagues ahead of shadow chancellor John McDonnell in the mind's of those polled. When asked who they thought would make a more capable chancellor, 46 per cent back Osborne, while less than a third (29 per cent) opt for McDonnell.
"The record levels of economic optimism generated before the election have long since dissipated, which has seen a slip in the chancellor’s personal ratings (although still above his worst during the ‘omnishambles crisis’)," explained Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI.
When asked about their thoughts on the economic outlook, nearly half (44 per cent) said they foresaw it getting worse over the next 12 months, compared with just a quarter (25 per cent) who thought brighter times were up ahead.
We're also feeling less keen about Prime Minister David Cameron as of late. While two out of five people (39 per cent) say they are satisfied with his performance, more than half (54 per cent) say they are dissatisfied.