Mixed polls news for Labour

Poll warning as Labour voters less likely to vote

Poll warning as Labour voters less likely to vote

A new poll for The Financial Times shows Labour continuing to hold a double digit lead over the Tories.

In reflects yesterday’s NOP poll for The Independent which showed Labour amassing a ten-point lead over the Conservatives.

That poll put Labour on 40 per cent, with the Tories on 30 per cent. The Liberal Democrats are on 21 per cent.

But the FT’s Mori poll warned Labour not to rest on its laurels as among those “absolutely certain” to vote, the gap was just two points, with Labour winning 36 per cent of support.

A 10-point margin for Tony Blair on May 5 would guarantee Labour a third consecutive term of office with a majority of around 150 in the Commons.

A two-point differential would see Labour’s current majority of 161 slashed to 84.

Of the respondents asked between April 21 and 25, six out of ten (61 per cent) said they were “absolutely certain to vote”.

Among Tory supporters, 80 per cent said they were certain to vote.

Among Labour supporters the figure was down to 64 per cent.

Elsewhere, an internal poll for the Guardian claimed Labour support was dwindling in key marginal constituencies.

Meanwhile, a poll by Populus for the Times and ITV News suggests the Lib Dems have made inroads following its concerted offensive on the rationale for the 2003 Iraq war.

Charles Kennedy’s party is up two points to 21 per cent on Tuesday, the poll found, after Mr Kennedy put the Prime Minister’s record on the war centre stage of the election campaign.

The Labour Party was down one point on 40 per cent, while the Tories down two at 31 per cent.

Mori interviewed 2,256 adults between April 21 and 25.

Populus asked 1,427 adults for their thoughts April 22 and 25.