Poll: Ed Miliband edging into lead
Sunday, 12 September 2010 11:19 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
Ed Miliband is set to secure the Labour leadership by a tiny margin once second preference votes are counted, a survey suggests.
The You Gov poll for the Sunday Times showed David Miliband in the lead by 36% to his brother's 32%, but that could change to 51% for Ed Miliband to David's 49% by the final round.
As the ore left-wing candidate, Ed Miliband is liable to pick up second preference votes from all three other candidates as they are knocked out.
If Diane Abbott, the most left wing of the candidates, is voted out first, it is expected that most of her votes will go to Ed Miliband, who propounds a more moderate left wing message and has a similar message on civil liberties.
The You Gov poll put Ms Abbott last on nine per cent, Ed Balls on 11% and Andy Burnham on 12%.
Meanwhile, Veteran left winger Dennis Skinner threw his lot in with David Miliband, in another important victory for the shadow foreign secretary.
The decision is a useful one for David Miliband, as it will increase his appeal amongst left-wing Labour members.
Mr Skinner, a colourful character on the opposition benches, is the second major left-wing Labour MP to get behind David Miliband. Jon Cruddas, an influential figure on the left of the party, is also backing him.
Sadiq Khan, Ed Miliband's campaign manager, said: "Ed has won the big arguments of this leadership campaign, that Labour must change if is to win again, that more of the same will not win back the support of those across all sections of society who stopped seeing labour as on their side and fighting for their interests."
The new Labour leader will be revealed on September 25th, just before the party's autumn conference.
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