Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Is Divided And Conservatives Are Far More Financially Competent, Poll Reveals

What The Public Really Thinks About Corbyn's Competence

Nearly two-thirds of the public view Labour as divided following Jeremy Corbyn's first month as leader, according to a poll.

Research by ComRes for the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror also gave David Cameron and George Osborne a commanding 19-point advantage over Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell on economic competence.

The findings, from interviews of 2,051 British adults, come after a difficult week for the fledgling Labour leadership which saw McDonnell perform an embarrassing U-turn after initially suggesting he would support the Government's new fiscal rules.

Nearly two-thirds of the public view Labour as divided a month into Jeremy Corbyn's leadership

Furious MPs branded the change "shambolic", and 21 abstained from the key Commons vote on Wednesday - gifting the Conservatives a comfortable majority.

Corbyn has also been openly at odds with members of his shadow cabinet over his opposition to renewing Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent.

The poll found 64% thought the party was divided, with just 16% describing it as united.

The Tories, who have been facing their own splits over the looming EU referendum, were regarded as united by 43% and divided by 35%.

Cameron and Osborne were viewed as more trustworthy with the economy by 48%, while 29% opted for Corbyn and McDonnell.

Some 56% believed that Labour would borrow more money than the Conservatives if they were in power.

Just under half - 45% - agreed that a Labour government would lead to economic chaos. The equivalent figure in January 2011, when Ed Miliband was leader, was 42%.

However, people generally believed Labour was right to oppose austerity, by a margin of 40% to 32%.

Overall the Conservatives were ahead of Labour on voting intention by 42% to 29%.

The research also suggested London mayor Boris Johnson has a narrow advantage over Osborne as the public's choice to succeed Cameron as prime minister.

Some 39% said the mayor of London would make a better premier, against 33% who backed Osborne.

But the Chancellor leads by 48% to 34% among Conservative voters, while much of Johnson's support comes from Labour and Ukip voters.

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