David Cameron’s run of good fortune shows no sign of ending. Today’s YouGov poll confirms the Tories’ two-point lead over Labour and reveals that Cameron’s stance on the EU has significantly improved perceptions of his leadership. The percentage of people who agree that he “sticks to what he believes in” has risen by 13 points to 39 per cent, the number who view as “decisive” by nine points to 29 per cent, and the number who view him as “strong” by five points to 24 per cent. Since such metrics are often the best long-term predictor of the result of the next election, this is a worrying development for Labour and Ed Miliband. As I’ve noted before, while Labour led the Tories under Neil Kinnock, Kinnock was never rated above John Major as a potential prime minister.
Few voters know or understand what Cameron has done but, in politics, perception is everything. A series of front pages comparing him to Churchill and hailing his “bulldog spirt” were always likely to improve his ratings at the expense of Miliband’s. A week ago, it was Cameron’s leadership under pressure but, as yesterday’s PMQs demonstrated, the roles have now reversed. Yesterday’s defeat was all the more damaging for Miliband since it was the final PMQs of the year. He won’t get a chance to avenge that loss and raise Labour MPs’ morale until 11 January.
Fortunately for Miliband, today’s Feltham by-election should be a shoo-in for Labour (the only poll conducted put Labour 22 points ahead of the Tories) but it will take more than that to reassure the gnawing doubts many have about his leadership.
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