Ed Miliband suffered yet another blow as a poll this week revealed that only 13% of the public believe he is ready to be prime minister.
The Ipsos MORI poll showed the Labour leader reaching his lowest-ever approval rating, dropping from 22% to 13%.
The poll also predicted the Conservatives will win the general election on May 7 next year with 32% of the votes, three points ahead of Labour.
With just six months to go until the nation goes to the voting booths, the results will undoubtedly place further pressure on his party as they scramble for power.
Mr Miliband addressed his critics yesterday and declared: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
He conceded that his ‘mettle has been tested’ by a difficult couple of weeks, but was confident that he would overcome the challenges.
“People want a prime minister, want a leader of the Labour Party, who can come through tough times and will fight for them and that’s who I am,” he said.
Labour has been rocked by growing discontent among party members, with some calling for Mr Miliband to stand down as leader.
Among Labour supporters, 58% said they were ‘dissatisfied’ with his performance as leader.
Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls brushed off concerns over the results of the poll. He said: “These polls have been bouncing around up and down for the last few months.
“The only poll which is going to matter is the one on general election day.”
SW Londoner hit the streets to find out how the Labour leader is faring in this part of town.
Is it time for Ed Miliband to step down as Labour leader after low personal ratings?
YES 90%
NO 10%
Raj Patel, 48, a mechanic from Tooting, said: “We live in a democracy. Surely if only a small amount of people want him to stay on, it wouldn’t be fair for everyone if he just carried on.”
Pensioner Rupert Miller, 74, of Wimbledon expressed his general disappointment of the quality of politicians today.
“They’re all rubbish anyway,” he said. “I’m not voting for any of them. The last time anyone decent was around was Thatcher.”
Diane Bates, 41, of Southfields chimed with widespread concerns over Miliband’s credibility as a national leader.
“He doesn’t have the charisma or appeal to pull off as leader of the country,” she said. “He’s a weak person with weak policies and a weak personality – so no doubt his leadership would be weak as well.”
Musician Jake Coen, 27, of Camden said: “They’re all the same, aren’t they? He’s pretending to be like us, but really he’s just another generic toff.
“None of them really care about what we want. They don’t understand the real concerns or problems of the people, so how can they help?”
Malcolm Ngere, 18, from Clapham, stood up against the tide of popular opinion and fought his corner for Miliband to stay.
“I think Ed talks a lot of sense,” the student said. “He’s not polished or slick and he’s being punished for that, but he’s the best of the lot.
“Anyway it’s too late for Labour to change its leader,” he added. “The election’s just around the corner and they’d lose with any last-minute party politics.”
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Image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks
