Sir Robert’s support ‘drops’

Press, 15 November 1984, Page 4

Sir Robert’s support ‘drops’

PA Wellington The popularity of the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Robert Muldoon, continues to drop in the opinion of voters according to a poll.

Only 9 per cent of voters in the latest Heylen-“Eye Witness News” poll said that they preferred him as Prime Minister — the lowest since the snap election in July. Only 22 per cent of the surveyed voters said they approved of the job Sir Robert was doing as Leader of the Opposition. This figure in the poll taken on October 27 compares with 34 per cent in the previous poll on August 4.

The percentage disap-

proving of his performance rose from 50 per cent in August to 61 per cent last month.

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay, who is considered the leading contender to take over the National Party leadership from Sir Robert, polled 8 per cent as the preferred Prime Minister.

Among the other leadership contenders, the former Minister of Transport, Mr Gair, polled 4.5 per cent and the former Minister of Labour, Mr Bolger, 2.9 per cent.

The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, maintained his approval rating at 75 per cent, the same figure as in August. The disapproval rating, at 14 per cent, was also the ■same.