It’s been a poll-a-ramic few days, with the overall picture still being that Labour have enjoyed some post-bailout gains – particularly on economic competence – but remain trailing the Tories by some margin. Today’s Ipsos MORI poll is a case in point. It has the Tories down 5 on last month, and Labour up 7; but the Tory drop has to be seen through the prism of a “freakishly” high result for them last month, and – besides – they’re still 15 points clear of Brown & Co.
Perhaps the most encouraging poll for Labour supporters is the YouGov one conducted in marginal seats and broadcast by Channel 4 earlier. That has the Tories on 43 percent (down 2 from last month); Labour on 38 percent (up 6); and the Lib Dems on 12 percent (down 1) – a fairly significant readjustment, then. But, again, there are mitigating factors that should blunt any Labour excitement: chief among them the very fact that this poll was conducted in “battleground” constituencies (i.e.
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