Public confidence in Gordon Brown as the best leader to deal with the economic crisis has fallen sharply, according to a poll conducted after this week's crucial Pre-Budget Report.
The Populus survey for The Times found Mr Brown was rated best to lead Britain through the recession by 42% of those questioned, compared to 52% in a similar survey a fortnight ago.
Just over one-third of those quizzed thought the Government's measures to boost the economy - such as the 2.5% VAT cut in Monday's Pre-Budget Report - will make things better in either the short or long term.
Around the same proportion thought the package unveiled by Chancellor Alistair Darling will make no real difference to the economy, while about one-fifth said it would make things worse in the coming months and a quarter believed it would make things worse over the next few years.
Mr Brown remained ahead of David Cameron as the best person to deal with the crisis, with the Conservative leader on 36%, up four points from the previous poll taken between November 7 and November 9.
Mr Cameron led Mr Brown as the preferred Prime Minister after the next general election by a margin of 41% to 33%.
More than half of respondents (54%) said they would save any money gained from the PBR measures, while 28% said they would use it to pay bills and 18% would buy things they might otherwise not have bought.
Populus interviewed 1,010 adults by telephone on November 25 and 26.
