The post you are reporting:
courtesy of the independent.
Seven out of 10 people want George Osborne to adopt a "Plan B" on the economy to give priority to growth rather than spending cuts, according to a poll for The Independent.
ComRes found that 72 per cent of the public believe it is time for the Coalition to perform a U-turn so that its policy is focused more on promoting growth and less on cuts, while 17 per cent disagree and 11 per cent don't know.
Significantly, 64 per cent of people who voted Conservative at the 2010 general election and 68 per of those who backed the Liberal Democrats want a change of course. So do 86 per cent of people who voted Labour.
The pressure from voters across the political spectrum suggests growing doubts about whether the Coalition's handling of the economy is working, following Britain's slide back into recession.
Although ministers deny they are drawing up a Plan B, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have asked the Treasury to produce more proposals to kickstart the economy through state-backed infrastructure and housing projects.
Ministers' fears about a prolonged recession have grown because of the crisis in the eurozone. Yesterday David Cameron discussed Britain's contingency plans at an hour-long session with Sir Mervyn King, the Bank of England Governor, and Lord Turner, chairman of the Financial Services Authority.
A Downing Street spokesman described it as "a long-planned meeting, as part of a series of meetings throughout government to ensure the UK is properly placed to deal with the eurozone situation and the issues arising from it".
Also present were the Chancellor, George Osborne; Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister; and Danny Alexander, the Treasury Chief Secretary.
According to ComRes, Labour enjoys an eight-point lead over the Tories, down slightly on the 10-point advantage in its last telephone poll for The Independent in March. Labour is now on 42 per cent (down one point); the Tories on 34 per cent (up one); the Lib Dems on 11 per cent (no change) and others on 13 per cent (no change).
The poll reveals a huge "gender gap" which suggests that Mr Cameron and his party are losing support among women. Some 40 per cent of male voters back the Conservatives; 39 per cent Labour and 8 per cent Lib Dem. But only 29 per cent of women voters support the Conservatives, while 45 per cent will vote Labour and 14 per cent Lib Dem.
The Tories are ahead among only one age group - those aged 65 and over.