Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are more trusted to steer the economy through the current downturn than David Cameron and George Osborne according to an opinion poll conducted for BBC2's Daily Politics programme.

The ComRes poll, conducted after the Chancellor had finished his speech, found that 33% of those questioned believed Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling were trusted the most to run the economy, compared to 27% favouring David Cameron and George Osborne. 13% believed Nick Clegg and Vince Cable were the most trusted to run the economy and 27% didn't know.

The last time this question was asked on 10th December 2009, David Cameron and George Osborne were in the lead with 33%, Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling were on 26% and Nick Clegg and Vince Cable were on 19%

In the same survey 59% of those polled said they didn't think the budget would make a difference, 18% thought it will be good for Britain and 12% thought it would be bad. 11% didn’t know.

Q.1 Putting your party allegiance aside, who do you trust most to steer Britain's economy through the current downturn?

Gordon Brown & Alistair Darling 33%
David Cameron & George Osborne 27%
Nick Clegg & Vince Cable 13%
Don't know 27%

Q.2 Putting your party allegiance aside, do you think this budget will be...

Good for Britain 18%
Bad for Britain 12%
Will make no difference 59%
Don't know 11%