Poll Predicts Labour Lose Exeter (Exeter Liberal Democrats)

Exeter Liberal Democrats <info@exeterlibdems.org.uk>

Poll Predicts Labour Lose Exeter

September 21, 2008 10:00 AM

A poll quoted in a number of national newspapers has predicted that Exeter 's Labour MP, Ben Bradshaw will lose his seat at the coming General Election.

The poll published by Politicshome.com was carried right across Britain , including in Exeter and showed that Labour's support in the City had almost halved since the last General election and they could slip into 3rd place.

Whilst the headlines suggest the Tories are heading for a landslide a closer look at the details of the poll suggest that the election is far from a foregone conclusion.

Exeter Lib Dems can draw heart from the figures that show of the Labour voters considering switching, 55% are opting for the Lib Dems. Even the few Tories considering changing sides are most likely to opt for the Lib Dems with 47% stating that preference.

The really bad news for Labour is that not only is their support haemorrhaging but that with almost a quarter of voters still undecided very few of them are considering backing Gordon Brown.

This group, which is larger than Ben Bradshaw's majority in 2005, is more likely to vote Lib Dem that for either of the other main parties.

When asked which of the main parties' shares your values and priorities the Lib Dems were almost twice as popular as Labour or the Tories.

Who do you think has the best policies? The Lib Dems were twice as popular as the Tories and clearly ahead of Labour.

Who do you think would make the best Prime Minister? Nick Clegg was 28% more popular than Gordon Brown and an amazing three times as popular as David Cameron.

University constituencies usually include a higher number of undecided voters - suggesting the Labour Agent in Exeter better start looking in the Jobs Vacant column.

This poll shows that Exeter is potentially a two horse race with Labour coming in a poor third.