THE Labour leader's bust-ups with business leaders could boost his popularity with voters, a poll has suggested, but Ed Miliband is still well behind David Cameron when it comes to who people think would best safeguard the British economy.

A Comres survey showed that 49 per cent of people said the Labour chief's rows with captains of industry showed he was on the voters' side. By contrast, just 27 per cent agreed with David Cameron that the rows had exposed Mr Miliband as a danger to the economy.

Labour was rated the best party for standing up to big business by a margin of 30 per cent to 22 per cent over the Conservatives.

But voters were split 40-40 over whether or not it was more important for a prime minister to have a good relationship with big business or stand up to its excesses.

On the wider issue of economic credibility, Mr Miliband received only 25 per cent support, considerably behind both Mr Cameron with 39 per cent and George Osborne with 34 per cent on being trusted to see the country through the current economic situation.

The poll was taken in the wake of comments from business leaders like Boots Chief Executive Stefano Pessina and ex-Marks & Spencer boss Lord Rose, warning that a Labour government would be bad for business.

Yet it also found 41 per cent of those taking part thought the businessmen were speaking out because they were personally worried that they would have to pay more tax if Mr Miliband became Prime Minister.