The three leaders before the second debate. One poll puts Clegg neck-and-neck with Cameron.

The polls: Lib Dems neck-and-neck with the Tories

The polls: Lib Dems neck-and-neck with the Tories

By Ian Dunt

A new poll has put Nick Clegg virtually neck-and-neck with David Cameron, suggesting Labour voters are moving to the Lib Dems.

The Harris poll for the Daily Mail, the first to be conducted entirely after the final leaders’ debate, put the Tories on 33%, down one, the Lib Dems on 32%, up three points, and Labour down two points to 24%.

At this stage in the race the Conservatives look set to get the most votes and seats but the battle for second place is becoming increasingly important.

If Mr Clegg ends up with the second highest level of popular support his argument that the electoral system is broken will be drastically improved. Mr Cameron would then be under pressure to make concessions on the subject in exchange for Lib Dem support.

A YouGov poll for the Sun, which usually sees the Tories with a greater lead than in other polls, seemed to suggest the leaders’ debate made little difference.

The survey put the Tories on 34%, unchanged, and Labour and the Lib Dems both on 28%.