Opinion has swung to the Left since the last election – but Ed Miliband lacks the credentials to take advantage of it , a major report revealed yesterday . Five years of austerity have pushed the mood further from the Right on issues such as public spending , Europe , welfare and business , it showed . Political attitudes have now returned to the same point as 2005 when Tony Blair secured the last of his three election wins for Labour . But the party still 'struggles to attract support ' despite the shift in the public mood , according to detailed analysis of the latest British Social Attitudes Survey . The report shows Labour 's problems may be the result of a poor reputation for economic competence and leadership and the Conservative Party 's ability to portray itself as moderate . It shows that Labour 's problems may be the result of a poor reputation for economic competence and leadership and the Conservative Party 's ability to portray itself as moderate , said the report . The shift to the Left could also help explain the rise of the Greens and SNP in Scotland , it added . Veteran pollster Peter Kellner said : 'Ed Miliband loses more from a perception that he is not up to the job than he gains from being seen as closer to the centre ground . ' The report 's author , Dr John Bartle , said the change in attitudes presented a potential danger for the Conservatives if it campaigns hard on issues like benefits and spending cuts . He said : 'The general leftward shift that has taken place since the last general election suggests that arguments about the need to shrink the state , reduce waste and cut income taxes will have less traction than in 2010 . ' The report 's author , Dr John Bartle , said the change in attitudes presented a potential danger for the Conservatives if it campaigns hard on issues like benefits and spending cuts . Veteran pollster Peter Kellner said : 'Ed Miliband loses more from a perception that he is not up to the job than he gains from being seen as closer to the centre ground ' The study , carried out by NatCen Social Research and the University of Essex , is based on an analysis of hundreds of opinion polls on a range of issues since 2010 . They feed into a wider study which has tracked political attitudes since the mid-1960s . 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 . He said : 'Beginning in 1964 , the average left-right position generally tracked rightwards until 1980 , the year after Margaret Thatcher came to power . 'The public then gradually moved left during the 1980s and remained there for the duration of the [ John ] Major premiership . 'The mood shifted rightwards from 1997 under New Labour and then left under the Coalition . Consequently , governing parties that achieve their party 's preferred policies cut the electoral ground from beneath their own feet – a Conservative government that reduces spending and taxes reduces concerns about waste and regulation , while a Labour government that increases resources to the NHS and education reduces concerns about public services . ' SIX weeks ago Labour vowed not to carry out a negative election campaign . Yesterday it unveiled its first poster accusing the Tories of stripping the NHS to the bone . A Tory spokesman described it as ‘ fear and smear ’ tactics .
Five years of austerity have pushed the mood further from the Right . Ed Miliband still can not take advantage of it despite shift in perception . Potential danger to Conservatives if it campaigns on issues like benefits and cuts . Study carried out by NatCen Social Research and the University of Essex .