12 April 2012
Gordon Brown's reputation for economic competence has been hit by the Northern Rock crisis and fears of a slowdown, a poll has suggested.
Research by YouGov for the Daily Telegraph found that 52% of voters rated the Government's handling of recent economic difficulties as "poor" or "awful".
Even more - 61% - said the same of the way the Prime Minister and Chancellor Alistair Darling had dealt with Northern Rock.
Less than a quarter of those surveyed approved of the Government's record overall, with 61% viewing it as negative.
However, there was a crumb of comfort for Mr Brown as the Tory lead dipped by four points - on 41% compared with Labour's 33%.
