Opinion polls show Ukip bounce after Clacton, Heywood and Middleton success

Ukip is benefitting from an opinion poll bounce after the party's successes in Essex constituency Clacton and Greater Manchester's Heywood and Middleton. 

 

On October 9, YouGov's poll had Ukip taking 14 per cent of the public vote. Labour was marginally ahead of the Conservatives – 34 per cent compared with 33 per cent – while Lib Dems were languishing in fourth place with seven per cent of the vote. 

 

Today however, Populus suggests the Conservatives have dropped to 30 per cent, with the three other parties picking up a point each, or in the case of the Lib Dems, two.  

 

Lord Ashcroft, who runs his own polling company, highlighted the change:

 

https://twitter.com/LordAshcroft/status/520006884758405120 

 

https://twitter.com/LordAshcroft/status/520564129430765568

  

Ashcroft, who makes no bones about his life-long allegiance to the Tory party, then highlighted the need for the parties to act. 

 

“How many times do politicians say it's a wake up call and that they're listening, then do zilch,” he asked earlier today.

 

“When I wrote 'wake up and smell the coffee' I should not have been surprised they smelt decaf,” he later added. 

 

https://twitter.com/LordAshcroft/status/520536279575166976 

 

https://twitter.com/LordAshcroft/status/520564611587002368