Labour secures largest ballot lead since Truss period – however Starmer nonetheless faces large problem | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Keir Starmer has secured one other document ballot lead over the Conservatives this morning, as YouGov finds Labour is now a whopping 30 factors forward of Rishi Sunak.

The new ballot offers Labour its largest lead over the Tories since Liz Truss was Prime Minister, as Sir Keir’s celebration surges to almost one in two voters saying they are going to vote for him on the election.

YouGov finds 48 p.c now again Labour, up 4 factors on its final ballot.

Meanwhile the Tories keep flat on simply 18 p.c help. Labour’s increase comes from supporters of minor events, with the LibDems down one p.c, Reform down two p.c and the Greens down one p.c.

Labour hasn’t seen such an enormous lead since October 2022, the week of Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini funds.

Labour’s lead in in the present day’s ballot would go away the Conservative Party with simply 13 MPs, particularly: Helen Grant, Rebecca Harris, David Reed, Joy Morrissey, Sir John Whittingdale, John Hayes, Mike Wood, Alister Jack, David Mundell, John Lamont, David Duguid, Harriet Cross and Andrew Bowie.

The ballot additionally sees voters ignoring Mr Sunak’s warnings that Britain is heading for a hung parliament, with simply 14 p.c agreeing with the PM’s forecast.

By distinction, 66 p.c of these polled say they count on a Labour majority, in comparison with simply 5 p.c predicting a Tory majority.

The ballot is one more blow to the beleaguered Prime Minister, who within the final 24 hours has seen one more of his MPs defect to Labour and the previous Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi be a part of the 65-strong exodus of Conservative MPs.

Despite the mega ballot lead, Sir Keir has a serious headache of his personal this morning as yesterday’s defection of right-wing Tory MP Natalie Elphicke has break up his celebration in half.

Members of his personal shadow cupboard at the moment are briefing in opposition to him, with some Labour MPs reportedly in tears yesterday after they heard the information.

One shadow cupboard minister mentioned: “People are upset and angry right across the party about the decision.”

Another shadow minister informed the Guardian: “Logically or politically, we didn’t need this … I worry that they’ll not have done sufficient due diligence on her.”

They added: “Her hard-right views are a big red line too. Are we welcoming Nigel Farage next week?”

There are additionally considerations about Labour’s vetting of their new MP, given the distinguished position Ms Elphicke performed in defending her ex-MP husband Charlie Elphicke each throughout and after he was jailed for sexual assault.

She was additionally quickly suspended from the Commons, together with different Tory MPs, for attempting to place strain on the choose throughout Mr Elphicke’s trial.

Even after their marriage ended, Ms Elphicke defended her ex-husband, writing: “Charlie is charming, wealthy, charismatic and successful – attractive, and attracted to, women”.

Last night time, The Times reported that Labour’s chief whip, Sir Alan Campbell, expressed considerations concerning the potential fallout of accepting her as a Labour MP, ­though he didn’t advise in opposition to her being admitted to the celebration.

Neil Kinnock, the previous Labour chief, additionally warned: “I think we have got to be choosy to a degree about who we allow to join our party because it’s a very broad church but… there are limits”.

“Ms Elphicke has got to decide whether she is committed to the programme and principles of the Labour Party.”