UK general election opinion polls: Labour leading as election looms

CHATHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 5: Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks to supporters alongside newly elected Labour Councillor Vince Maple, Chatham Central, on Chatham Pier on May 5, 2023 in Chatham, England. With 61 of the 230 councils counted and declared from yesterday's local elections, the Labour Party has won 653 seats, up 119. They have taken control of Stoke on Trent, Plymouth and Medway councils and increased their majorities in Telford and Ipswich. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

The next UK general election is looming, with most analysts expecting it to be called late this year. After 13 years of Conservative rule, Keir Starmer’s Labour has been consistently ahead in the polls since the start of 2022.

The latest a general election could be called is January 2025. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has the power to call a general election at any point before then, but facing a potential loss, experts think that he will put it off to stay in power for longer.

The enormous new poll of almost 25,000 people carried out by Focaldata on behalf of Best for Britain, the organisation behind getvoting.org tactical vote site, found that a staggering 63% of people think it’s time for a change of government, while less than a quarter (24%) think the current government should remain in place.

A change of government was the most popular option across all demographics assessed, including age, gender, ethnicity, religion and income level. This includes those groups traditionally more supportive of the Tories, such as over 65s and those in the top income bracket.

Polling also shows that a fifth (19%) of those who say they still intend to vote Conservative in their area want a change of government.

A YouGov survey of 14,000 people indicates that Rishi Sunak’s Tories could hold on to as few as 169 seats as Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour enters Downing Street with 385.

The polling, reported by the Telegraph, indicated that every so-called “red wall” seat won by Boris Johnson in 2019 could be lost at the general election this year.

According to the bombshell survey, Support for the Conservative Party has plunged to the lowest level since 1978 with just a fifth of British voters now backing Rishi Sunak’s party. Showing the Conservatives as 27 points behind Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, it predicts spell electoral oblivion for Mr Sunak’s party if replicated at a general election.

The Ipsos poll, published earlier in January, also shows Mr Sunak could hold on to as few as 25 seats – 351 fewer than Boris Johnson won in 2019 – in what would be a historic defeat.

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