Polling company YouGov have sent out an email with polling numbers on public opinion, after the budget.

As with the last Budget, which polled well immediately, but opinions turned sour fairly quickly after, its worth taking these with a pinch of salt. The numbers are likely to turn back to their long term trend within weeks.

YouGov say:

• George Osborne and the Coalition’s economic policies are now viewed negatively, a reversal of the situation immediately after his first emergency budget back in June 2010.

• Back in June 2010 43% of people felt that he was doing a ‘good job’ as Chancellor of the Exchequer, but that figure has now fallen to 34%.

• In contrast most people now believe he is doing a ‘bad job’ with that figure increasing from 24% to 40% over the same time period.

• Over a quarter of respondents (27%) still do not know if he is doing a good or bad job, down only 6% since his first budget.

• After the Chancellor’s first budget it was felt that the way the government was cutting spending to reduce the deficit was both good for the economy and being done fairly. The opposite is now true.

• The proportion who feel it is good for the economy has fallen from 53% to 39% while those who think it is bad has now risen to 46%, seven percent ahead and a rise of 18%.

• Similarly those who feel it is being done fairly has fallen from 45% to 31% while unfairly has risen from 34% to 56%. In addition a majority (53%) feel it is being done too quickly, with 30% thinking it is about the right pace and only 6% that it is taking place too slowly.

• However, nearly three out of five respondents (59%) felt the way the government is cutting spending is necessary, compared to less than a third (31%) who feel it is unnecessary.

The number of people who believe Osborne is not telling the truth about the state of Britain’s economy is just 36% – exactly the same figure that believe he is not.

Back in June 2010 46% felt he was truthful compared to 24% who did not.

But its also not all good news for Labour.

The Coalition is still ahead of the Labour Party when respondents are asked who they would most trust to make the right decisions about dealing with the deficit. 38% trust the Coalition, 14% ahead of Labour on 24%.

42% blame Labour for the financial crisis, while 25% blame the Conservatives and a further 21% say both.

Overall 44% of respondents felt the budget was fair, compared to 31% who felt it was not. Back in June 2010 50% felt the Chancellor’s first budget was fair.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   YouGov: How the public received the budget http://bit.ly/gJan90

2. Liberal Conspiracy

   YouGov: How the public received the budget http://bit.ly/gJan90

3. Derek Bryant

   RT @libcon: YouGov: How the public received the budget http://bit.ly/gJan90

4. sunny hundal

   Just 36% of voters believe George Osborne is telling the truth about the state of UK's finances. Was 50% in June 2010 – http://bit.ly/gJan90

5. manishta sunnia

   RT @sunny_hundal Just 36% of voters believe George Osborne is telling the truth about the state of UK's finances. http://bit.ly/gJan90

6. Jose Aguiar

   RT @libcon: YouGov: How the public received the budget http://bit.ly/gJan90