Earlier today, Tom Newton Dunn at the Sun has tweeted out tomorrow morning’s YouGov figures for the paper and the topline figures put the Conservatives and Labour on an equal footing: CON 36%, LAB 36%, LDEM 10%, UKIP 12%.
According to UK Polling it is the the first time that the Tories have caught Labour in a YouGov poll since March 2012.
It is just one poll, although ICM had a poll a few months ago showing the two as neck and neck, but it underscores how small Labour’s lead is. That’s clearly worrying as the coalition enters a period where the economy is showing small increments of improvement and will likely gain additional positive sentiment from voters.
The point critics will make is that there shouldn’t even be one poll like this, but as there is it raises questions about the leadership and a lack of a loud and well understood economic response to the coalition.
It highlights again, the recent comments by Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, who warned that Labour must “shout louder” or risk defeat in the 2015 election.
Ed Miliband will need to put in a barnstorming performance next week at the party’s conference and reassure rattled supporters and dubious voters.
BREAKING: YouGov/Sun poll tonight – Tories and Labour neck and neck, tied on 36% each. UKIP 12%, LD 10%. Lab lost 14 point lead over a year.
— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) September 18, 2013
