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Ukip only 10 points behind Tories, latest poll shows Ukip only 10 points behind Tories, latest poll shows
(about 4 hours later)
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have suffered a double blow as Nigel Farage's UK Independence party soared to 17% in the latest Opinium/Observer poll, and a large majority of voters have said they believe coalition economic policies are harming the country. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have suffered a double blow as Nigel Farage's UK independence party soared to 17% in the latest Opinium/Observer poll, and a large majority of voters have said they believe coalition economic policies are harming the country.
Following its success in the Eastleigh by-election, where UKIP came second behind the Lib Dems, Farage's anti-EU party is up 4% on a fortnight ago, and now has more than double the support enjoyed by the Lib Dems, who are unchanged on 8%. Following its success in the Eastleigh byelection, where Ukip came second behind the Lib Dems, Farage's anti-EU party is up 4% on a fortnight ago, and now has more than double the support enjoyed by the Lib Dems, who are unchanged on 8%.
Labour, has dipped by 2% to 39% – also a likely victim of the Ukip bounce – while the Tories are down by the same amount to 27%, one of their lowest ratings of recent years. Labour has dipped by 2% to 39% – also a likely victim of the Ukip bounce – while the Tories are down by the same amount to 27%, one of their lowest ratings of recent years.
The personal ratings of the leaders of the three main parties in parliament have all dropped with David Cameron's having fallen by 8% in two weeks from -18% to -26%. That of Labour leader Ed Miliband has dropped 5% in a fortnight to -20% while Nick Clegg's rating has crashed a further 7% from -46% to an alarming -53%. The personal ratings of the leaders of the three main parties in parliament have all dropped, with David Cameron's having fallen by 8 points in two weeks from -18% to -26%. That of Labour leader Ed Miliband has dropped 5 points in a fortnight to -20% while Nick Clegg's rating has crashed a further 7 points from -46% to an alarming -53%.
But the findings on the economy will reverberate most at Westminster. Just 20% of all voters now believe the government's economic policies have been beneficial to the economy, against 58% who say they have been harmful.But the findings on the economy will reverberate most at Westminster. Just 20% of all voters now believe the government's economic policies have been beneficial to the economy, against 58% who say they have been harmful.
Even among Tory supporters only just over half (55%) think they have been beneficial, with 17% saying they have harmed the economy, and 22% either saying they have been neither harmful nor beneficial, or having no view.Even among Tory supporters only just over half (55%) think they have been beneficial, with 17% saying they have harmed the economy, and 22% either saying they have been neither harmful nor beneficial, or having no view.
Among Lib Dems only 24% think coalition economic policies have had a positive effect, while 40% think they have been harmful.Among Lib Dems only 24% think coalition economic policies have had a positive effect, while 40% think they have been harmful.
Opinium carried out an online survey of 1,950 adults in Great Britain, aged 18 and over, from 5 March to 7 March, 2013. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria. • Opinium carried out an online survey of 1,950 adults in Great Britain, aged 18 and over, from 5 March to 7 March 2013. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.