An Angus Reid Institute poll says 78% of British Columbians have something they dislike about B.C. NDP leader David Eby, while many voters say they don’t know enough about Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson.
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A new Angus Reid Institute poll released in advance of the upcoming provincial election found that public impressions of B.C. party leaders present major challenges for both David Eby and Lorne Doerkson.
The poll reported that 78% of British Columbians said they had something they disliked about Eby.
Among respondents who offered negative views of Eby, 24% said he was dishonest or had a history of broken promises, and 20% said they thought he was a weak or ineffective leader.
Less than half of those surveyed said they had something positive to say about Eby, with 13% citing his personal character, 13% pointing to his leadership and competence, and 12% naming his policies or NDP values.
When voters were asked about Doerkson, the poll found that 31% said they did not know enough about him to name something they liked.
It also found that 29% could not identify something they disliked about Doerkson, unlike Eby, whom the poll characterized as an established leader since he has been in power for two years.
Among undecided voters, 55% could not name a positive attribute for Doerkson and 50% could not offer a criticism.
For those who already formed impressions of Doerkson, 14% gave positive reviews tied to conservative values, a change or fresh start, and perceived honesty.
The poll also reported that critics pointed to Doerkson’s conservative ideology (18%), his inexperience (10%), and concerns about where his party stands on social issues and more extreme elements within the party (10%).
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