Polls show Labour lead stretching after week of damaging infighting over pro-Gaza protests and Covid inquiry… with fears Keir Starmer is on track for bigger majority than Tony Blair
Labour has been stretching out its poll lead as Tories engage in infighting over Gaza protests and the Covid inquiry.
Opinium found Keir Starmer’s advantage has grown from 15 points to 17 points over the past fortnight.
The results come hot on the heels of YouGov research that puts the gap even wider, at a staggering 24 points – the same as detected by a separate WeThink survey.
Meanwhile, a massive Survation poll using MRP techniques – which deploys detailed demographic data on constituencies to estimate support – has suggested Sir Keir is on track for a 212 majority.
That would be even bigger than the 179 margin Tony Blair had after his 1997 landslide.
The figures are a grim backdrop for Rishi Sunak as he mulls bringing forward a Cabinet reshuffle to sack Suella Braverman after she criticised police for bias over pro-Palestinian protests.
The PM has also been struggling to break clear of the Covid inquiry, with a succession of ministers, ex-ministers, former advisers and civil servants painting a dire picture of the heart of government during the pandemic.
Opinium found Keir Starmer ‘s advantage has grown from 15 points to 17 points over the past fortnight
Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak (pictured together at the State Opening of Parliament last week) are squaring up as the general election looms
Tory MPs are becoming increasingly alarmed at Mr Sunak’s failure to make any inroads in shifting the polls, with potentially just a year until a general election.
The Opinium research, conducted between Wednesday and Friday, indicated that support for Labour has reached 43 per cent, up a point over the last two weeks.
The Tories were down one on 26 per cent.
The WeThink questioning on Thursday and Friday suggested the difference was 24 points, up from 18 points a week earlier.
The YouGov study carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday had Labour on 47 per cent compared to 23 per cent for the Conservatives.
The MRP research could be particularly worryingly for Mr Sunak, as it maps a 12,000-strong sample on to the characteristics of constituencies – and uses the new boundaries expected to be in place by the election.
Survation’s snapshot, commissioned by the UK Spirits Alliance, concluded that Labour would win a 212-seat majority.
The party’s national support of 46 per cent would secure 431 seats to the Conservatives’ 156, the Sunday Times reported.
In 1997 Mr Blair won 418 seats and had a majority of 179 seats.
A YouGov study carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday had Labour on 47 per cent compared to 23 per cent for the Conservatives
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