article_snippet: Five years of austerity have pushed the mood further from the Right on issues such as public spending, Europe, welfare and business, Five years of austerity showed.
article_snippet: Dr Bartle said the trend since 2010 was typical of that seen in the past – with public opinion moving in the opposite direction to the government of the day.
article_snippet: Dr Bartle said: 'Beginning in 1964, the average left-right position generally tracked rightwards until 1980, the year after Margaret Thatcher came to power. '
article_snippet: The public then gradually moved left during the 1980s and remained there for the duration of the [John] Major premiership. '
article_snippet: The mood shifted rightwards from 1997 under New Labour and then left under the Coalition.
highlights_snippet: Five years of austerity have pushed the mood further from the Right .
  