So much for confidence ... we just feel even worse

VOTERS feel more pessimistic about the state of the economy than they did before the Budget, a poll suggests today.

Nearly two-thirds of people think things will get worse over the next three to six months after the Chancellor announced record levels of government borrowing and debt.

A Populus telephone survey of 548 people conducted in the hours after the Budget revealed 64 per cent of people think the economy will deteriorate in the short term compared with 31 per cent who think it will improve. Last weekend, 43 per cent of people were feeling positive and 52 per cent negative.

Today's results also indicate voters have given a big thumbs-down to Alistair Darling's plan to put an extra 2p tax on a litre of petrol from September.

Only 20 per cent of people thought the fuel tax rise would have a positive impact, while 68 per cent thought it would be detrimental to the economy.

Eight per cent thought the Chancellor's announcements would help them personally and 53 per cent thought the Budget marked the end of New Labour.