Full YouGov poll results

VOTERS are blaming Alistair Darling for the deepening economic gloom and believe he should be sacked, a new poll for The Sunday Times has found. By 44% to 27%, respondents believe the chancellor should be replaced following his clumsy handling of the Northern Rock banking crisis and bad news on the economy.

The poll also shows that David Cameron, the Tory leader, and George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, have a six-point lead over Gordon Brown, the prime minister, and Darling when people were asked which team they trusted most to run the economy.

Following a warning last week from Mervyn King, the Bank of England governor, that the recent rise in living standards would slow sharply, only 12% of people think their household finances will improve over the next 12 months, while 50% think they will get worse. The governor said higher food and energy prices would slow income growth.

On voting intention, the YouGov poll of nearly 2,500 voters shows the Conservatives have a nine-point lead over Labour, down one from a month ago. The Tories are on 41%, down two on last month, while Labour are on 32%, down one, and the Liberal Democrats’ 16%, up two under their new leader Nick Clegg.

The prime minister will be relieved support for the government has not fallen further as people have become gloomier about the economy. More than a third, 34%, think house prices in their area will fall this year, with only 23% expecting a rise.

Darling announced concessions last week to “nondoms”, people who live in Britain but are deemed nonresident for tax purposes. According to the poll, he should not have done so, with 60% saying he should have toughened up his proposals to tax nondoms more rather than relax the rules. Only one in five, 21%, think it is right for nondoms to pay less tax because of the jobs they generate in this country.

A separate poll this weekend by the accountants Grant Thornton found half the wealthiest residents from the Indian subconti-nent were actively preparing to leave Britain following Darling’s announcement of stricter rules for nondoms.

As Darling prepares to announce a decision on the fate of Northern Rock, Sir Richard Branson, the leading candidate to take it over if it avoids national-isation, has a good reputation.

Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor, has questioned Branson’s suitability to acquire the stricken bank. The poll shows, however, that 71% of people think he is a fit and proper person to do so. Only 13% believe he should not be allowed to take it over.

YouGov also asked if MPs should have the right to avoid surveillance, as in the secret bugging of Labour MP Sadiq Khan, revealed by The Sunday Times. Despite the outcry, 73% said MPs should be treated the same as everyone else.

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