Miliband more trusted on the NHS than David Cameron, poll finds

Last week was Labour’s NHS week; it looks like their clear, constant message on has paid off – their lead on health has doubled since February.

This is according to polling ComRes polling for Incisive Health, which suggests that Labour have built on their NHS lead in recent months. Incisive Health’s tracker of the ComRes polling shows the ratings for the Tories have stayed relatively stable while Labour’s have increased.

The good news isn’t just for the party overall, though. When asked which party leader, if any, do you trust on the NHS. 28% of voters from across England, Scotland and Wales chose Ed Miliband. That’s seven points up since February and 4 points ahead of David Cameron, who’s rating has risen by one point to 24%. Miliband has, therefore, gone from lagging behind Cameron by 2 points, to overtaking him by 4.

A lot of this support for Miliband seems to come from people saying “none of them” or “don’t know” when previously asked this question. The number responding with these two answers have fell from 45% to 34% since February.

In response to this poll, Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary told the Guardian:

“These figures vindicate labour’s decision to put the NHS at the heart of the election.

“People have seen the NHS go downhill under David Cameron and they know it is not safe in his hands. The NHS can’t afford five more years like the five it has just had.

“David Cameron has never been given the permission of the people of this county to expose the NHS to unprecedented levels of privatisation. That is why Thursday 7 May will be his day of reckoning on the NHS.”