Budget measures hurt Tories in poll

David Cameron and George Osborne’s reputation for economic competence has taken a major hit in the wake of the Budget, according to a poll.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor enjoyed a net 24 point advantage over Labour counterparts Ed Miliband and Ed Balls before the financial package.

But research by ComRes for has suggested that has now been slashed to just four.

Overall the poll put Labour on 40 per cent, ahead of the Tories on 34 per cent and Liberal Democrats on 11 per cent. Some 25 per cent said they trusted Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne to make the right decisions on the economy, while 54 per cent did not.