UK Election Blog
April 17, 2010
Posted: 1122 GMT

In a potentially big development in the UK election build-up, in the first YouGov poll conducted since the leaders debate on Thursday night, the Liberal Democrats overtook Labour to become the second most popular party. Gordon Brown’s governing Labour party is now in last place among the three major parties.

The LibDems made gains at everyone’s expense – they took 4 points from the Tories, 3 from Labour and 1 from “others.”

Usual caveats apply. This is only one poll etc. 

But I am removing a caveat from yesterday’s single poll showing Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg won the debate – every poll I saw yesterday supported that result. But remember, voters in the UK technically do not vote for a party leader. They vote for their local MP. So keep your eye on party popularity at least as much as leader popularity.

One other fact to remember about the daily YouGov poll – YouGov is polling for The Sun, Britain’s most popular newspaper, so its findings are getting a lot of exposure. A lot of people will hear this result, that the LibDems have moved into second place. That in and of itself may influence voting behavior.

 YouGov latest voting intention 16 April

Our latest daily polling figures for The Sun (fieldwork 15th-16th April) are:

Conservative: 33% (Down from 37% on April 15)

Liberal Democrat: 30% (Up from 22%)

Labour: 28% (Down from 31%)

Others: 9% (Down from 10%)

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Filed under: Election •Indicators


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Bladeforce   April 17th, 2010 2:36 pm ET

Well I for one will not be voting Liberal here just for one thing, they want to scrap our nuclear deterrent with countries like iran and n.korea around thats just plain silly

Maqsud   April 17th, 2010 4:05 pm ET

What was the margin of error in the poll? Assuming it was around 5%, it is a deadheat between the parties. A lot will change between now and the voting day. LibDem's policies will be scrutanized like never before and their leader's every past word/action will be judged...

Masud Zaidi   April 17th, 2010 4:33 pm ET

it is time for change in UK and Labor Party needs to sit in opposition and people should bring party to power.
Masud Zaidi Hargeisa Somaliland

Martin   April 17th, 2010 5:53 pm ET

Conservative, libdem, labour. Ok then.

Mike   April 17th, 2010 7:33 pm ET

I'm a Lib Dem, but usually refrain from voting for them because of their minorr status. However, I may have to rethink! I'd vote for them based on their 21st century attitude to gay marriage alone!

Lylyn   April 17th, 2010 9:24 pm ET

Nice! Most people I know in truth want to vote Libdem, but never thought they had a chance, so always voted labour. I think this will make a big difference.

sir chuks   April 18th, 2010 5:01 am ET

integrity & good moral behaviour shuld speak instead of d party.D best shuld com out of d election.Best of lucks

sir chuks   April 18th, 2010 5:12 am ET

a good leader is known 4 his tenacity 2 make things work well though, there wil alwaz b road blocks.Its normal.

Gareth Hartwell   April 21st, 2010 1:38 pm ET

Couple of corrections to the other comments:

- Margin of error is more like 1% than 5% and there have now been many polls with similar results
- Lib Dem policy is not to scrap the UK nuclear deterrent, it is to cancel the replacement of Trident and find a cheaper and more appropriate nuclear capability for the world we now live in.

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