Low turn-out could hit Labour’s chances
A new poll put Labour 12 points ahead of the Conservatives – but only 55 per cent of respondents said they would vote.
If the figures are accurate, this would be the lowest turnout since 1918, when troops were returning from the First World War.
Worryingly for Labour the NOP poll for The Independent also shows that Labour supporters are less committed to voting than their opposition supporters. Sixty-nine per cent of Conservative voters said they would vote, compared to 64 per cent of Liberal Democrat and 59 per cent of Labour supporters.
But the poll also contains worrying news for the Conservatives as it seems to suggest that weeks of attacks on the Labour government and alternative policy launches have had little effect on voting intentions.
The NOP poll puts Labour on 42 per cent – up four points on last month – with the Conservatives down two on 30 per cent.
The Liberal Democrats are some way off the pace down three points with an 18 per cent share of the vote.
Labour’s showing is its best since victory was declared in the war to oust Saddam Hussein.
Should the poll mirror results at the general election, widely predicted to take place on May 5, Labour would win an historic third term of office with an increased majority of around 170.
NOP interviewed 953 adults by telephone between February 11 and 13.
