National closes the gap - poll

National seems to have made an instant hit in the wake of Don Brash's Orewa speech this week on welfare reform, significantly narrowing the gap with Labour.

Early results of a Herald survey being conducted by DigiPoll show "a significant gain", a representative of the polling company said last night.

This is despite some specific ideas promoted by the National leader finding little favour in the poll.

The early trend emerged after interviewers had spoken to 302 people - more than a third of the 800 who will be polled.

In the December poll, National had the support of just 30.4 per cent of decided voters, 20 points behind Labour on 50.1 per cent.

The smaller sample in the present poll suggests the 20-point gap has narrowed to about five points.

That may be confirmed when the results of the larger sample are published in Tuesday's Herald.

Dr Brash's highly publicised state-of-the-nation speech focused on ways to reduce the number of people on benefits and in particular the domestic purposes benefit.

Of those who recalled something about his speech, 63.3 per cent supported it.

But some specific policy ideas found little favour, particularly his view that adopting out babies should be a more acceptable option than it is now. A majority of 74.5 per cent disagreed, while 15.7 per cent agreed. 

The opposition to his policy of stopping women on the DPB getting any extra money if they became pregnant while on the benefit was 44.1 per cent.

However, 46.9 per cent agreed with him.

Dr Brash said he would make it harder to get the sickness benefit - a view supported by 56.6 per cent and opposed by 33.6 per cent.