Has the EU debacle hurt Cameron?

Leaving aside Cameron’s relationship with his own backbenchers for now, how has yesterday’s vote affected the public’s view of him?

The first proper hint comes from today’s YouGov poll (conducted on Sunday and yesterday), which asks respondents to rate the qualities of each of the party leaders. Among the public as a whole, there is no significant change in views of the Prime Minister since last month. But there is a change in what Conservatives think of him, and not in the direction Cameron would like.

Now just 40 per cent of Tory voters think Cameron is honest, down from 53 per cent last a month ago. And a mere 19 per cent say he’s “in touch with the concerns of ordinary people,” down from 31 per cent. There are smaller, but still just about significant, drops in the number who think he’s decisive, charismatic, “good in a crisis” and “a natural leader”. Here’s the chart:

In truth, it’s unlikely that the affair will have a significant lasting effect on what the public think of Cameron, even if it’s making a small difference now. After all, just 4 per cent regard the EU as an important issue. But all this does add some spice to next few sets of approval ratings.