So has the Lord Ashcraft saga fouled the Tories’ reputation? Well, looking at this One Poll survey in PR Week it would seem it has. 52 percent of respondents feel that the party’s reputation hasn’t improved since the start of the year – and 37 percent think that the Ashcroft revelations are the biggest contributing factor to that.
But what does all that really mean? After all, another finding is that 20 percent of respondents believe that the 2006 story about a bike-riding Cameron being trailed by his chauffeur is “still damaging” to the Tories. That may be so. But will that kind of reputational “damage” really stop people voting for the Tories come the election? Similarly, will the Ashcroft story actually sway hearts and minds?
For answers, I’d rather look to the voting intention polls, where the Tory lead was shrinking before the revelations about Ashcroft’s tax status – and, if anything, has rallied slightly since.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in