This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/10/london-mayor-johnson-ahead-poll

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
London mayor election: Johnson four points ahead of Livingstone in poll London mayor election: Johnson six points ahead of Livingstone in poll
(about 1 hour later)
Ken Livingstone is trailing Boris Johnson by four points in the contest for London mayor, according to a ComRes poll for the Evening Standard, London Tonight and LBC. Ken Livingstone is trailing Boris Johnson by six percentage points in the contest for London mayor, according to a ComRes poll for the Evening Standard, London Tonight and LBC.
The survey suggests the Labour candidate has 46% support compared with 50% for his Conservative counterpart on a second round of voting, with no winner after the first round. The survey suggests the Conservative candidate has 53% support compared with 47% for his Labour counterpart on a second round of voting, with no winner after the first round.
The deficit is probably recoverable in the final month of the campaign although some of the underlying figures look ominous for Livingstone as he prepares to launch his manifesto on Wednesday.The deficit is probably recoverable in the final month of the campaign although some of the underlying figures look ominous for Livingstone as he prepares to launch his manifesto on Wednesday.
His camp reported that it had been told by ComRes that the sample was wrong and Johnson's lead is actually six points. The extent of Johnson's lead was revealed after ComRes released revised figures for the poll. They had initially given Johnson a 50% to 46% advantage. Some other data was also amended after the polling company said there had been a weighting error.
In a previous ComRes poll Livingstone was two points behind although a YouGov poll put him eight points behind. Comparing the results of different pollsters can be misleading. In a previous ComRes poll, Livingstone was two points behind, although a YouGov poll put him eight points behind.
Livingstone has faced charges of hypocrisy for putting some of his money through a tax efficient company and has become embroiled in a highly personal row in a lift with Johnson over the issue that led to mutual charges of hypocrisy. Livingstone and Johnson have rowed over their personal tax payments, an argument that became highly personal when the two clashed in a lift over mutual accusations of hypocrisy.
He is also struggling because the London media is becoming increasingly clear in its support for Johnson, after previously being neutral. The poll found 48% of people interviewed were less likely to vote for Livingstone following the row.
The poll found 51% of people interviewed were less likely to vote for Livingstone after the row over his income tax. This compares with just 44% of those interviewed before. Overall, before the set-to in the lift the two main rivals were neck and neck – each polling 48% – but afterwards the mayor opened up a large lead of 58% to 36%.
Overall, before the row in the lift the two main rivals were neck and neck – each polling 48% but afterwards the mayor opened up a large lead of 58% to 36%. The sample size for these two findings was not available.
The sample size for these two findings is not yet available. In inner London, Livingstone is ahead on 60%, compared with Johnson's 40%, but his rating has shrunk since January when he was on 68%. Much will depend on the propensity of voters in inner and outer London to turn out to vote. Labour claims to have a better "get out the vote" operation.
In inner London, Livingstone is ahead by 58% compared with Johnson's 38% but his rating has shrunk from 10 points since January when he was on 68%. Much will depend on the propensity of voters in inner and outer London to turn out to vote. Labour claims to have a better "get out the vote" operation. Johnson is still well ahead in outer London, where he is polling 60% to his rival's 40%. Johnson appears to be outperforming the Conservative party as a whole among his voters, with 28% saying they liked the mayor but not his party, according to the survey.
Johnson is still well ahead in outer London, where he is polling 57% to his rival's 39%. Johnson appears to be outperforming the Conservatives among his voters, with 28% saying they liked the mayor but not his party, according to the survey. Livingstone, on the other hand, continues to be less popular than his party. Just 14% of his backers said they liked him but not Labour, while 17% said it was the other way round. Much of his deficit relates to the willingness of older voters to back Johnson, even though Livingstone is the older of the two main candidates.
Livingstone continues to be less popular than his party. Just 14% of his backers said they liked him but not Labour, while 17% said it was the other way round. Much of his deficit relates to willingness of older voters to back Johnson, even though Livingstone is older of the main two candidates. Johnson is more trusted among 32% of respondents to deliver on his promises, while just 26% trust his main rival more. More than a quarter of Londoners trust neither candidate.
Johnson is more trusted among 32% of respondents to deliver on his promises, while just 26% trust his main rival. More than a quarter of Londoners trust neither candidate. Among Lib Dem voters at the last general election, Livingstone is more popular than Johnson by 46% to 33%.
Livingstone is more popular than Johnson among Lib Dem voters at the last general election by 46% to 33% This will be a concern for Johnson's campaign, given the historical importance of second preference votes.
This will be a concern for Johnson's campaign given the historical importance of second preference votes. The poll suggests that in the first round of voting, 46% of Londoners would back Johnson, 41% Livingstone, 6% Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick and 4% Green party candidate Jenny Jones. The independent candidate Siobhan Benita is also standing, as well as Ukip and BNP candidates.
The poll suggests that in the first round of voting 46% of Londoners would back Johnson, 41% Livingstone, 6% Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick and 4% Green Jenny Jones. The independent candidate Siobhan Benita is also standing as well as a Ukip and BNP candidate.