This is what the British public think of the main party leaders

Andy Wells
·Freelance Writer

Theresa May is arrogant, Jeremy Corbyn is weak and Tim Farron is weird – according to the British public.

New research conducted by polling firm Populus has found that Brits hold some very different opinions of the main party leaders in the run up to the General Election.

And while the results were on the whole positive for the Prime Minister, they made more grim reading for Mr Corbyn.

Theresa May was described positively on the whole (Populus)
Theresa May was described positively on the whole (Populus)
Jeremy Corbyn was described as weak and out of his depth (Populus)
Jeremy Corbyn was described as weak and out of his depth (Populus)

Populus asked voters to pick from a list of positive and negative words to describe the leaders of the four main political parties – the Tories, Labour, the Lib Dems and the SNP.

Four of the five most popular terms for Mrs May were positive – she was found to be determined, up to the job and competent.

However, she was also found to be arrogant by 18% of people questioned.

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Mr Corbyn, however, was described negatively in four of the five most popular terms.

The Labour leader – who has battled against dire personal ratings since he started the job in 2015 – was seen as both weak and out of touch by a quarter of people, while one third see him as out of his depth.

More positively, some 18% of people see him as a principled politician.

Some voters think Tim Farron is weird (Populus)
Some voters think Tim Farron is weird (Populus)
Nicola Sturgeon received a more mixed reaction from UK voters (Populus)
Nicola Sturgeon received a more mixed reaction from UK voters (Populus)

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron is also primarily seen as out of his depth, weak and out of touch, while 13% of people just think he is weird.

There is a more mixed view of SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who is seen by UK voters as arrogant and smug, but also determined.

The survey was undertaken amid accusations that Theresa May is attempting to turn the election into a presidential one, pitching it as a straight fight between herself and Mr Corbyn, rather than about parties or candidates.

Laurence Stellings, Director of Reputation and Strategy at Populus, said: “The research explains the Conservatives’ decision to brand those running for office as ‘Theresa May’s local candidates’ and the Conservative Party as a whole as ‘Theresa May’s team’.

“It gives credence too to reports that some Labour candidates are removing references to their party leader in campaign materials or avoiding photos with Jeremy Corbyn.”

Top pic: Rex