After slipping slightly during the summer recess, Labour's lead over the Conservatives is back up to 11 points (42% to 31%) while the Liberal Democrats slip behind UKIP again (8% to 9%) continuing the pattern of alternating the 3rd and 4th party positions that has lasted since April.
- Ed Miliband remains the most popular of the main party leaders when measuring net approval (the number approving minus the number disapproving) with -14% for the Labour leader compared to -20% for Prime Minister David Cameron and -49% for Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg
- As usual, the number approving of Mr Cameron's job performance is higher (32%) than Mr Miliband's (25%) but his net rating is worse due to higher numbers disapproving (52% compared to 39% for Mr Miliband)
- Views of Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg remain firmly negative with 63% disapproving and 14% approving giving him a net rating of -49%, the worst figure he has recorded since Opinium began tracking approval ratings
Topline Voting Intention
| % | Change | |
| Conservative | 31 | n/c |
| Labour | 42 | +2 |
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | -2 |
| Other parties | 19 | n/c |
Other Parties (breakdown)
| % | Change | |
| UKIP | 9 | -1 |
| Green | 3 | n/c |
| SNP | 3 | n/c |
| BNP | 2 | n/c |
| Plaid Cymru | 0 | -1 |
| Other | 1 | n/c |
Approval ratings
| % Approve | % Disapprove | Net rating | Net rating (own party) | |
| David Cameron | 32% | 52% | -20% | +76% |
| Ed Miliband | 25% | 39% | -14% | +44% |
| Nick Clegg | 14% | 63% | -49% | +15% |
Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 1,947 GB adults aged 18+ from 31st August to 3rd September 2012. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.
Interview Method and Sample
This survey is conducted online by CAWI (computer aided web interviewing), using Opinium’s online research panel of circa 30,000 individuals. This research is run from a representative sample of GB adults (aged 18+ in England, Scotland and Wales). The sample is scientifically defined from pre-collected registration data containing gender, age (18-34, 35-54, and 55+), region (North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, Wales, and Scotland), working status and social grade to match the latest published ONS figures.
Opinium also takes into account differential response rates from the different demographic groups, to ensure the sample is representative.
Recent Survey Results
