A big majority of the public believes that the main measures expected to be announced by Gordon Brown to help housebuyers and to offset high fuel bills will make little or no difference to them and their families.

A new Populus poll for The Times, undertaken over last weekend, reveals the extent of voter disillusionment with the Brown Government on the eve of the announcement of its housing plans.

The poll shows no change in voting intentions for the main parties compared with late July, with the Conservatives on 43 per cent, Labour on 27 per cent, the Liberal Democrats on 18 per cent, and other parties on 12 per cent. This confirms the pattern since the spring with Labour well below 30 per cent and the Tories in the mid 40s.

In this month’s poll, barely a half ( 51 per cent) of those who voted Labour in 2005 say they would do so in a general election now, while nearly one in five ( 19 per cent) say they would vote Conservative. But 83 per cent of Tory voters in 2005 say they would do so again now.

Most of the rumoured proposals to help housebuyers and to alleviate higher fuel bills are very popular with voters, but only a small minority think they will make a significant difference to their economic situation. While 58 per cent support a one-off windfall tax on energy companies, just 22 per cent think it will make a significant difference, and 73 per cent little or no difference.

There is a similarly stark contrast with a temporary suspension of stamp duty on all house purchases, backed by 70 per cent, but seen as making a significant difference by 30 per cent, and little or none by 67 per cent.

As many as 83 per cent back more public spending on measures to help make buying a house more affordable and to get the housing market moving again. Bit only 33 per cent believe it will make a significant difference, and 64 per cent little or none.

A one-off payment targeted specifically at poorer families with children under 16 to help pay for higher fuel bills is favoured by 68 per cent, but even more, 73 per cent, say it will make little opr no difference to their situation. Just 25 per cent say it will have a significant imapct.

David Cameron and George Osborne have maintained their big lead over Mr Brown and Alistair Darling on being most trusted to deal with Britain’s economic problems in the months and years ahead, by a margin of 39 to 30 per cent, virtually the same as in early May. This contrasts with the 61 to 27 per cent balance in favour of the Labour team in early September a year ago.

Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne have a 15 point lead among men, but only a three point margin among women.

— Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,506 adults aged over 18 by telephone between August 29 and 31. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to be representative of all adults. for more details, see www.populus.co.uk .

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