Cable is public's number one choice for chancellor |

Monday 22nd March 2010 | 11:00

Cable is public's number one choice for chancellor

Almost a third of voters would like to see Cable as chancellor, while Alistair Darling and George Osborne gain support of barely one in ten.

Vince Cable has emerged as the public's preferred choice to become chancellor, according to new PoliticsHome research.

The result comes after the Observer reported that Cable has been in talks with the Treasury about a hung parliament and was ready to step into the role of Chancellor if required.

Last week's City AM/PoliticsHome survey of City workers revealed that Ken Clarke was the financial district's preferred candidate, but among the general public, thirty one per cent say that Cable is the best candidate for the job.

Clarke is favoured by 16 per cent to return as chancellor, despite currently acting as shadow secretary of state for business, innovation and skills. Clarke previously served in the position under John Major’s government between 1993 and 1997.

A silver lining in the poll for Alistair Darling is the poor performance of his Labour rivals for the job. Lord Mandelson scored 4 per cent and Ed Balls, who Gordon Brown was rumoured to want to replace the current chancellor with, received the support of just 2 per cent.

Darling and Osborne not fully backed by own sides

However, Darling, as well as Osborne, continues to enjoy only low levels of support from their own parties’ voters. Around three in ten Labour voters back the current chancellor, while a similar proportion of Conservatives support Osborne.

By contrast, the overwhelming majority of Liberal Democrats – 79 per cent – would be happy to see Vince Cable as chancellor.

PoliticsHome interviewed 1,041 adults from 12-15 March 2010. Results are weighted by age, gender and political party identification to reflect the population of Great Britain. Full data tables are available on request.

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