People in Britain think Nigel Farage comes across as “weirder” than Ed Miliband, according to a new poll.

When asked which of a list of words or phrases applied to each party leader, 33 per cent of those polled said they found the Ukip leader “weird”, compared to 31 per cent for Labour’s Mr Miliband and just 9 per cent for David Cameron.

The news from the poll may come as a relief to Mr Miliband, who has recently admitted he does not excel at photo opportunity politics and repeatedly tried to make light of photographs showing him fail to eat a bacon sandwich.

But while stunts like the Paddy Power advert and his bizarre “Ukip weather forecast” earlier this year may make Mr Farage look weird in the context of political leaders, the latest poll by ComRes and ITV News showed he also scores highest as a politician who “comes across as someone like me”.

In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Show all 18 1 /18 In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The beggar Ed Miliband casually gives money to a homeless woman in Manchester, surrounded by press photographers. In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The Bacon Sandwich Ed Miliband buys a bacon sandwich from cafe owner Antonios Foufas at New Covent Garden Market in London as he kicks off a day of campaigning on the eve of the local and European elections In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The Bacon Sandwich Ed Miliband chats with a cafe owner Antonios Foufas at New Covent Garden Market in London In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The Bacon Sandwich Ed Miliband embarked on a whirlwind campaign tour of England - but struggled at the first hurdle (a bacon sandwich). Aides intervened after just a few less-than-elegant bites Jeremy Selwyn In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Flower Shopping Ed Miliband talks with a couple of traders at New Covent Garden Market in London In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Flower Shopping Ed Miliband purchases some red roses for his wife at New Covent Garden Market in London In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Talking Business Ed Miliband talks with a trader at New Covent Garden Market in London In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Good Morning Britain Miliband on ITV's Good Morning Britain show on 20 May 2014, a day of gaffes in which he was also caught out by BBC Wiltshire for not knowing who the local Labour leader was In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal '£70 Weekly Shop' Ed was accused of being 'out of touch with reality' after he seemed not to know what he - or the average British family - spends on a weekly food shop PA In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The Nick Clegg Broadcast Ed Miliband took a (mis?)calculated risk with a recent political broadcast containing a satirical attack on a shrunken, naked Nick Clegg – but no details of Labour policies Getty In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Drop in Polls Ed Miliband paid a visit to Leighton Hospital in Crewe to speak with the staff about the NHS, but faced difficult questions about polls showing his personal ratings falling well behind those David Cameron and George Osborne PA In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal On the Sofa with Farage Ed Miliband appeared on the Andrew Marr Show to debate with Nigel Farage - but has all but conceded defeat in the Newark by-election, allowing Ukip a free run at the Tories BBC In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Wollies in Wellies Miliband was among a number of politicians to come under fire for 'touring' the floods in the South and South West earlier this year PA In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Wollies in Wellies The Labour leader admitted it was 'a difficult decision for politicians whether to visit areas like this' In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Missed Opportunity Miliband's performance at the Labour conference last year failed to make much of an impression on voters, polls suggested Getty Images In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Sharing the Moment Miliband, Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Angus Robinson enjoy their moment with Andy Murray, after the tennis player's Wimbledon win Getty Images In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Casual Husband Miliband and his wife Justine are pictured in their hotel room in Brighton as he prepares to give his keynote speech to the annual Labour Party Conference Getty Images In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The Milibands Just your average family of four? Getty Images

Just 24 per cent of people said they thought Mr Farage was “out of touch with ordinary people”- compared to 52 per cent who felt the same about the Prime Minister.

But Mr Farage’s antics do nothing to make him seem “statesmanlike”, the poll suggests – just 12 per cent of people felt he showed this characteristic, compared to 37 per cent for Mr Cameron.

The poll was conducted with a relatively large group of more than 2,000 people ahead of the Labour conference.

Nigel Farage celebrating the European elections victory (Getty Images)

And in other findings, it showed that the economy – which Mr Miliband “forgot” to mention in his keynote speech – is Labour’s weakest issue in the eyes of the public.

Labour nonetheless holds a firm lead over the Conservatives as the party most would trust to manage the NHS, keep down the cost of everyday items, make the welfare system fairer and provide good care for the elderly.

For more of the findings, see the tables below.

Q: Please select which of the following words or phrases apply to each party leader.

Statement David Cameron Ed Miliband Nick Clegg Nigel Farage Trustworthy 20% 19% 10% 15% Out of touch with ordinary people 52% 36% 46% 24% Has the right policies for Britain’s future 26% 20% 7% 25% Is statesmanlike 37% 9% 6% 12% Comes across as someone like me 13% 15% 8% 20% Competent 32% 19% 11% 19% Intelligent 43% 32% 27% 29% Can get things done 31% 17% 7% 19% Weird 9% 31% 15% 33% None of the above 10% 14% 20% 16%

Base: All GB adults (n=2,048).

Q: Which party do you trust most to…

Issue Lab Con Lib Dem UKIP Don’t know Manage the NHS 29% 20% 7% 9% 35% Keep down the cost of everyday items, such as food, energy and travel 28% 19% 5% 9% 39% Make the welfare system fairer 28% 23% 6% 11% 32% Improve housing affordability 28% 18% 5% 8% 41% Make sure the benefits of economic growth are felt by all 26% 23% 6% 11% 32% Provide adequate care for the elderly 26% 15% 10% 8% 42% Improve the education system 25% 24% 8% 9% 35% Promote economic growth 20% 34% 4% 11% 31% Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour 17% 29% 4% 14% 36% Redefine Britain’s relationship with the EU 15% 23% 5% 30% 27% Reduce the Government’s budget deficit 14% 39% 4% 9% 33% Control immigration 12% 16% 4% 43% 25%

Base: All GB adults (n=2,048).