Cameron wins crucial voters to eye Commons majority
Tuesday, 26 February 2008 12:00 AM
The Conservatives are on course to secure an overall majority at the next general election, having extended their lead across nearly all sections of society.
After a series of polls suggesting Gordon Brown's falling support had plateaued, the latest ComRes poll for the Independent hands David Cameron his strongest lead yet of 11 points.
After gaining three points over the past month, support for the Conservatives has risen to 41. Labour remain unchanged on 30 with the Liberal Democrats also static at 17.
The Conservatives' gain comes at the expense of other parties, who dropped three points.
Translated into seats, it is estimated this could hand the Conservatives a 38-seat majority after the next general election.
Significantly the Conservatives are now in the lead across all regions of Britain, with the exception of Scotland.
Strong Tory support in the north-east is notable, with the poll conducted after the government announced the nationalisation of the Newcastle bank Northern Rock.
The Conservatives' lead is strongest in the capital, with 45 per cent of Londoners backing the Tories compared to 30 per cent supporting Labour.
The results continue the perception that Boris Johnson will prove a formidable opponent to Ken Livingstone in the forthcoming London mayoral elections.
Mr Cameron has also crucially extended his appeal among voters from the lowest socio-economic groups, with an advantage among DE voters.
The Conservatives' lead among high-end AB voters is more compelling, with the Tories on 43 points to Labour's 24.
The only group Labour can claim to be securing are younger voters, however, these 18 to 24-year-olds are less likely to vote in elections.
Conservative voters are more likely to turn out and vote full stop, with two-thirds of supporters "absolutely certain they will vote at the next general election. Only half of Liberal Democrats and Labour supporters are likewise committed.
Overall 94 per cent of "natural Tories" say they will vote for Mr Cameron at the next election, compared to 84 per cent of Labour voters pledging to back Mr Brown.
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