Labour on course to achieve best result in London for 40 years at local election
2 min read
Labour are set to record their best vote in London for 40 years at next week’s local elections, according to a poll.
The study by Queen Mary University found 51% of Londoners are set to back the party - a staggering 22 points ahead of the Tories.
However, support for Labour has dropped by three points since the last poll in February, meaning the party may fail in its bid to win the totemic Conservative councils of Westminster and Wandsworth.
The study also suggests a gulf in voting intention between inner and outer London.
In inner London, support for Labour is at 59%, compared to 22% for the Tories. But in outer London, Labour is on 46%, with the Conservatives on 34%.
If replicated next Thursday, the results would represent a swing of over 5% to Labour since the same seats were contested in 2014.
Philip Cowley, professor of politics at Queen Mary and Director of the Mile End Institute, said: "Nothing in this poll indicates that next week with be anything other than a good night for Labour in London.”
He added: "The small decline in support for Labour should mean that both Westminster and Wandsworth will be held by the Conservatives.
“We should however, be careful about applying a London-wide survey to individual boroughs with any certainty.
“Should the Conservatives manage to hold these seats, it will not be a sign of success, merely the avoidance of utter disaster”.
The study also revealed that those living in Conservative-led council areas are more likely to be satisfied with their local authority, with 48% thinking they do a good job, compared to 43% under Labour.
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