Poll shows public support for Jeremy Corbyn's policy blitz - but Tories lead by 21 per cent

Jeremy Corbyn: Picture credit - PA

Recent policies unveiled by Jeremy Corbyn are supported by the majority of the public, according to new polling which also shows the Conservatives stretching their lead over Labour further. 

The ComRes survey for the Independent and Sunday Mirror gave the Tories a 21-point advantage over Labour – the biggest lead for the party in government since 1983.

The headline numbers put the Conservatives up four on 46 per cent, Labour steady on 25 per cent, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP and SNP all down one per cent to 11 per cent, nine per cent and four per cent respectively.

A separate poll from Opinium today recorded Labour narrowing the gap on the Conservatives to nine points, however.

ComRes also asked people about policies unveiled by Corbyn in the last 10 days.

His proposal for a £10/hour minimum wage by 2020 was backed by 71 per cent of people, with just 18 per cent disagreeing.

More than half (53 per cent) of respondents supported the policy of universal free school meals for primary school pupils, paid for by scrapping the tax break on private school fees.

Longstanding Labour plans to increase the top rate of income tax from 45 per cent to 50 per cent were backed by 62 per cent of the people, but those polled were more cautious about the idea of using £350bn of government to create a £500bn national investment bank, with 26 per cent in favour and 28 per cent against.

The survey also showed there was little change on support for the policies when they were presented as Jeremy Corbyn’s or Labour’s.

Corbyn told the Independent: “Our policies are popular because to most people it’s common sense that our Government should act in the interests of the overwhelming majority and that will mean taking on the powerful.

“The people of Britain have been held back too long, but we have the ideas and the will to change the country for the better.

“There’s so much more to come and as the party comes together to campaign for these popular polices, we are convinced our support in the polls will increase.”

Diane Abbott, one of Corbyn’s closest allies in the Shadow Cabinet, said last week that Labour could be polling in the single digits if it had a different leader.