Lib Dem surge following expenses scandal
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Tuesday, 12, May 2009 02:43
By politics.co.uk staff
The Liberal Democrats have surged ahead in the opinion polls off the back of damaging expenses revelations against the two main parties.
A Populus poll for the Times this morning – conducted between Friday and Sunday – shows a sharp drop in support for Labour and the Conservatives, with the Liberal Democrats and smaller parties benefitting.
The findings come as the Telegraph publishes another batch of expenses, with some devastating claims by senior Conservatives, including one who charged the taxpayer to have his moat cleaned.
Labour has fallen four points since April to 26 per cent. The Tories also fell by four to 39 per cent.
The Liberal Democrats are up four points to 22 per cent. The 'other parties' category, which includes Ukip, the Green party and the BNP are also up four points.
The evidence of a widespread disillusionment with British parliamentary parties is now conclusive.
The statement that "all the parties are as bad as each other" in abusing the system of expenses earned 86 per cent approval, while 85 per cent agreed their actions confirm "how self-serving and out of touch most are".
There was very little support for MPs' defence that they were within the rules.
There were also mixed results about a Labour leadership battle, with just half of respondents saying a change from Gordon Brown would improve the party's standings.
The Liberal Democrats have not had any Telegraph coverage devoted to their expenses yet.
Today, Liberal Vision – a liberal campaign groups within the Lib Dems, set up a new website pressing for a "strict internal party code of conduct" on the subject of expenses.
The Lib Dem whip should be withdrawn from those who fail to abide by this code, the group said.
Former Lib Dem media chief Mark Littlewood said: "The blog will be blunt, iconoclastic, and fearless in our promotion of freedom.
"We aim to inject some life into the Lib Dem blogosphere and won’t be taking any prisoners.
"The party has the chance to advocate a popular and truly liberal agenda. To fail to do so would be an abdication of political responsibility.”
The new blog went live at 11:30 BST today can be viewed at http://www.liberal-vision.org/.