23 February 2023 , 21:00
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More voters believe Keir Starmer would be best to manage the UK's stuttering economy than Rishi Sunak's Tories, a new poll has found.
It comes as a fresh blow for the Prime Minister whose party is trailing Labour in the national polls after 12 months of chaos in the Tory party.
Elections experts said the survey by People Polling for GB News "should ring some alarm bells in No10".
When voters were asked who would be the best to manage the British economy in the coming years, just 18% said Mr Sunak.
A much higher number - 32% - said a Labour Government with Mr Starmer.
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Mr Sunak, who was Chancellor during Boris Johnson's government, has often highlighted his time at the Treasury as one of his strengths.
Keir Starmer delivers five 'missions' speech on Thursday (Getty Images)But Professor Matthew Goodwin said: "This should ring some alarm bells in No10.
"The numbers here have not really changed from those we recorded a month ago, with a plurality of voters backing Keir Starmer on the economy over Rishi Sunak, although it is worth pointing out that a majority of voters do not back either Labour or the Conservatives on this pressing issue.”
Almost a majority of voters - 46% - also said they would vote for Labour in an election, compared with just 20% for Labour.
It chimes with surveys published by other pollsters in recent months giving Mr Starmer's party a healthy double-digit lead.
On Thursday the Labour leader also spoke at length about the economy as he gave a major speech on the "missions" of a Labour Government.
Included is a commitment to make Britain the fastest growing economy within five years if he wins the next general election - expected in 2024.
He said: "If growth over the last 13 years had been as strong under the last Labour government, we would have £40billion extra to spend on schools and the NHS without a single extra penny in tax.
"Britain needs to create more wealth, needs to be more competitive - it's that simple".