Kier Starmer’s Labour Party are now 14 points behind the Tories, according to new polling.
A YouGov poll for the Times has the Tories up two points to 43% and Labour down five to 29%. The Greens and Lib Dems are both up two points.
Westminster voting intention:
CON: 43% (+2)
LAB: 29% (-5)
GRN: 8% (+2)
LDEM: 8% (+2)
REFUK: 3% (-)via @YouGov, 12 – 13 Apr
Chgs. w/ 08 Aprhttps://t.co/iLUFQC28FB pic.twitter.com/MBO4Y10HGc— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) April 16, 2021
As Patrick Maguire points out, this is only one poll and it comes directly after lockdown has been eased, but:
nonetheless it is the kind of result that will make Westminster sit bolt upright
He adds:
That is not only YouGov’s clearest Tory lead of the year, the 50th in a row recorded by all pollsters, but it pegs Labour as less popular than they were under Jeremy Corbyn.
Twitter had quite a bit to say about the new figures. Former Labour MP Emma Dent Coad was disturbed:
https://twitter.com/emmadentcoad/status/1382991542823096323
Councillor John Edwards reminded everyone what the polls looked like during the era of anti-Corbyn coups:
Worth remembering that @jeremycorbyn was level pegging in this same poll when @Keir_Starmer instigated the cowardly Labour MP’s revolt against him a few short years ago.
If he applied his “forensic” skills to these appalling figures Starmer would resign today.#LabourNightmare https://t.co/99VnMPaRYG
— John Edwards (@JohnEdwards33) April 16, 2021
Some predicted the polls would get worse if Starmer kept trying to out-Tory the Tories.
Not a surprise.
This is what happens when an "opposition" not only fails in its duty to oppose but also collaborates with and emulates the Government of the day.It'll go lower. https://t.co/3OVGCh4C97
— Carl Doran🇮🇪🇵🇸🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@CarlDoran13) April 16, 2021
Stats for Lefties predicted the worst outcomes for decades if Labour keeps to its current course:
This would be the worst result for Labour in terms of seats since 1935, when the party won just 151 seats.
In terms of the popular vote, it would be the worst result for Labour since 1983 (when Labour won 28% within Great Britain). https://t.co/G8XCn8VsVD
— Stats for Lefties 🍉🏳️⚧️ (@LeftieStats) April 16, 2021
Others questioned claims that the power of the pub opening effect had informed the increased Tory lead:
https://twitter.com/KeepLeftOfLeft/status/1382977399831334912
As Maguire noted, it will also worry Labour MPs that the party is losing points to other centre-left parties like the Greens:
If borne out over the weeks until polling day, Labour MPs might start conducting their conversations about Starmer’s leadership at a higher volume
Its hard to say what will happen to Starmer in the short-term, but one lesson of the last few years is that centrist and right-wing Labour MPs are nothing if not ruthless when they want rid of someone.
Featured image via Wikimedia Commons/Rwendland
