Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne are more trusted to see Britain through the economic crisis than their Labour counterparts, according to a new poll.
The survey, conducted by ComRes, also revealed people believe the poor, rather than the rich, will be hardest hit by the Coalition's austerity measures.
According to the poll of 2,000 people for ITV News, 37% trust Mr Cameron to dig the country out of its financial hole - down from his 43% rating last October - while 25% back Mr Osborne.
Only 18% believe opposition leader Ed Miliband has what it takes, with shadow chancellor Ed Balls gaining 14% of the backing.
They trail Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, who scored 24%.
The poll showed that 2% of the public believe that adults on high incomes will be the worst affected by the cuts, while 50% think adults on low incomes will be most affected.
Some 31% believe adults on middle incomes will bear the brunt, while 12% said the elderly.
The number of people who believe the spending cuts will negatively affect them has increased from 48% in October to 62%, according to ComRes.
