Poll rates Duncan Smith 'no better than Hague'

A majority of voters believes the Conservative Party is still out of touch and that Iain Duncan Smith is no improvement on William Hague as leader, a survey published today says.

The NOP opinion poll, commissioned by Channel 4's Powerhouse programme, found that 59 per cent believed the Tories did not understand their everyday problems. It also found that 41 per cent thought Mr Duncan Smith was not doing a better job than his predecessor, while only 28 per cent preferred him.

The findings do not reflect the plaudits Mr Duncan Smith has received in the media recently in response to his support for a largely elected senateto replace the Lords and the conciliatory tone he has adopted on asylum-seekers.