The Conservatives have gained another percentage point over Labour but Boris Johnson’s party remains only single figures ahead of Jeremy Corbyn, a new poll suggests.
Westminster voting intention from Britain Elects shows the Tories up to 43 per cent, with Labour holding steady on 34 per cent.
The General Election looks set to be a two-horse race as the Lib Dems stay put on 13 per cent, the Brexit Party slump to 3 per cent and the Greens trailing on 2 per cent.
The General Election looks set to be a two-horse race as the Lib Dems stay put on 13 per cent, the Brexit Party slump to 3 per cent and the Greens trailing on 2 per cent. Pictured: Mr Corbyn getting on his battle bus today
The poll came just hours before a crunch debate between the two heavyweights of British politics (pictured, Mr Johnson today)
The poll came just hours before a crunch debate between the two heavyweights of British politics.
Mr Johnson was last night declared the winner of the final election TV showdown after roasting Jeremy Corbyn over Brexit, supporting the IRA, stealth taxes and ‘overthrowing capitalism’.
A snap YouGov poll found the PM performed better in the primetime BBC One clash by 52 per cent to 48 per cent – ironically mirroring the 2016 referendum and a result that will delight Tory strategists.
During a bruising hour-long session, chaired by Nick Robinson, Mr Johnson appealed for the public to back him on Brexit on December 12 so the country can move on.
He ridiculed Labour’s muddled position of renegotiating with Brussels and holding another referendum, but with Mr Corbyn staying neutral. ‘You cannot negotiate a deal if you are neutral on it… it’s a failure of leadership on the biggest issue facing this country at the moment,’ he said.
The veteran left-winger was also pressed over Labour’s plans to introduce a four-day week in the NHS, and failed to deny that he wants to ‘overthrow capitalism’.
But he insisted he was putting forward an ‘ambitious’ programme that could end child poverty, as he desperately to turn the tide as polls continue to show the Tories ahead.
The clash quickly turned nasty, with Mr Johnson getting a round of applause as he condemned Mr Corbyn for trying to ‘lecture’ people on the importance of ties with Northern Ireland after ‘supporting the IRA for four decades’.
During a bruising hour-long debate tonight, Boris Johnson appealed for the public to back him on Brexit on December 12 – condemning Jeremy Corbyn for a ‘failure of leadership’
He also repeatedly swiped that his opponent was ‘ignorant’ on the benefits of free trade.
According to the YouGov poll, Mr Corbyn came across as more trustworthy by 48 per cent to 38 per cent, and also won on the NHS. But Mr Johnson trounced him by 62 per cent to 29 per cent on Brexit, 55 per cent to 36 per cent on likeability, and was seen as more prime ministerial by 54 per cent to 30 per cent. He was also seen as performing best on security 55 per cent to 34 per cent.
Labour will be dismayed that Mr Corbyn failed to land any significant punches, with the Tories seemingly in the driving seat just six days before the country goes to the ballot boxes.
Ipsos MORI research earlier found Labour has been making up some ground over the past three weeks, with its support increasing four points. But the Conservatives still have a 12-point lead, enough for a comfortable majority.
As the days until the vote tick down, there are concerns compulsory voter identification at polling stations will discriminate against the young, poor and those from ethnic minorities.
Professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, Tim Bale, said the research suggests there is a social and demographic difference between those who can routinely provide identification, and those who cannot.
He said: ‘Younger and poorer people and those from ethnic minorities would perhaps find it more difficult to produce their identification.
‘It would discriminate against them.’
He argues voting behaviour in the UK indicates that people who are poor, young and from ethnic backgrounds tend to vote Labour, and as a result the voting reforms could favour the Conservatives.
The clashes quickly turned nasty, with Mr Johnson getting a round of applause as he condemned Mr Corbyn for trying to ‘lecture’ people on the importance of ties with Northern Ireland after ‘supporting the IRA for four decades’
‘Almost certainly at the margins it would favour the Conservatives,’ Prof Bale said.
The Conservative Party argues compulsory voter ID would prevent voter and ID fraud, but Prof Bale argues voter fraud is not that common.
‘The research suggests it’s extremely unusual,’ he said.
This is echoed by Electoral Reform Society policy and research director Dr Jess Garland, who said last year during a trial of the proposed voter ID reforms there were eight allegations of voter fraud across the country, only one of which led to a conviction.
‘These changes will affect every single voter,’ she told PA.
‘It’s a really disproportionate response. We’re concerned the big picture is being missed here.’
Dr Garland said that during the local election trial in 2018, more than 1,000 people turned up without ID, 350 of them not returning to vote.
In a trial across 10 councils this year, about 2,000 people were turned away for not having ID, with about 750 of them not returning to vote, she said.
‘These are quite large numbers bearing in mind there’s that one case of impersonation last year,’ Dr Garland said.
‘There’s a risk that people are being prevented from voting.’