Does climate resonate with the public?

A recent Populus Poll published on Conservative Home breaks down the party’s overall improvement in support by policy area.  Overwhelmingly the Economy comes first, at +36%, with Tax & Spending at +21%, and housing at +17%.  Europe lags in 5th position at +11%.  And climate?  The hot issue into which we’ve sunk so much effort?  It’s down in 9th position, at a mere 6%.  Of course most people think we should “do something” about climate, until they realise that it means £1000 extra on a new car, or £100 extra on the family holiday.  And at a time when we’re facing exceptional inflation on both food and energy, the public are starting to understand that climate policies, biofuel targets and carbon taxes are helping to drive up prices.  In the middle of an exceptionally cold summer, global warming is the least of their worries.