Gallup poll puts Mrs Thatcher ahead

Press, 21 January 1983, Page 6

Gallup poll puts Mrs Thatcher ahead

NZPA London An opinion poll in today's “Daily Telegraph" has the Conservative Party leading Labour by 12 r a per cent, double its lead last month. The Gallup poll, taken immediately after Mrs Thatcher’s return from the Falklands, shows the Tories with 44 per cent and Labour 31*/2 per cent Mrs Thatcher and her Government have increased their personal popularity over Mr Michael Foot and his shadow Cabinet. 53 per cent saying that the Conservatives have the best leaders, while only 13 per cent preferred the Labour leadership. Forty-two per cent thought that the Conservatives had the best policies overall, compared with 22 per cent

for Labour and 16 per cent for the Liberal-Social Democratic Party alliance. The poll also revealed that the election fever which gripped the city recently had not spread to the public. Opinions were almost evenly divided, 48 per cent wanting a General Election soon, but 47 per cent saying that the Government should carry on. If there was an election the public had no doubt who would win. Almost two in three — 61 per cent —

expected a Tory victory, with only 19 per cent predicting a Labour triumph, and just 3 per cent backing the alliance.

Unemployment remains the problem causing most public concern, followed by the cost of living, and de"fence.

Concern with defence is increasing, say the pollsters. More people want more discussion on defence and armaments.

People polled also expressed more confidence in the Conservatives’ ability to deal with defence, law and order, inflation and prices, strikes and industrial disputes, and the European Common Market.

Labour was thought to be stronger dealing with the National Health Service, unemployment. and education.

The survey was based on a nationally representative sample of 955 electors interviewed in more than 100 districts between January 12 and 17.