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The Lib Dems hit another poll low

How support for the Lib Dems fell from 34 per cent to 7 per cent in just ten months.

By George Eaton Published 07 January 2011 10:18

Chris Huhne's prediction that Liberal Democrat support would fall to 5 per cent as a result of the government's austerity measures looks ever more accurate. The latest YouGov survey puts Nick Clegg's party on just 7 per cent, their lowest rating since 1990. If repeated at a general election on a uniform swing, the latest figures would reduce the Lib Dems to a rump of just nine MPs.

As the graph below shows, in less than ten months, Lib Dem support has fallen from a peak of 34 per cent during the height of Cleggmania to 7 per cent.

(All figures from YouGov)

The party's new poll low coincides with an approval rating of -20 for the coalition, the lowest yet recorded. But with the Conservatives on 39 per cent (3 points higher than at the general election), it's Nick Clegg's party that is suffering the greatest damage.

The Lib Dems' decision to abandon three of their key election pledges – opposition to a VAT increase, higher tuition fees and early spending cuts – has, unsurprisingly, alienated millions of those who voted for them at the election.

Simon Hughes's argument in this week's NS that the Lib Dems are now the "constructive progressives" of British politics is not without merit. His party can take much of the credit for measures such as the pupil premium, the abolition of child detention and the repeal of identity cards. Today's announcement by Nick Clegg on libel reform is another example of a progressive policy that the Lib Dems' presence in government is allowing them to introduce.

Clegg's ultimate hope is that his party will share credit with the Conservatives for restoring the British economy to health. But should support for the Lib Dems continue to plummet, an increasingly restive party may decide that's not a gamble worth taking.

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Tags: Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg

More from George Eaton

View the discussion thread.

20 comments

Fri, 2011-01-07 19:24 — tingedfringe (not verified)

'Why are labour doing so poorly over the tories'..
Up from 29% to 43%? An increase of 14%? Compared to the Tories who've seen an increase of 3%?
And only 4% behind the combined vote of the coalition?

According to yougov's figures, Labour are only doing worse in the south - which is Tory dominated.
In every other region, Labour is doing better than the combined total of the coalition.

Fri, 2011-01-07 20:01 — ang (not verified)

WELL SAID!!

Mon, 2011-01-10 11:49 — Syd Walker (not verified)

A few key tests for the Lib Dems. Can they (a) stop Trident (b) get British troops out of Afghanistan FAST (c) get decent electoral reform (d) get fair policy on Palestine (e) stop UK participation in the mad, illegal and cowardly attacks on Iran

These might rebuild Lib Dem support. If not, they are just being used.

Mon, 2011-01-10 12:31 — jie4v7i14

This all sounds like a song;

Nick Clegg, started with 35,
but then started lying,
and soon started to dive,
Then went into minus figures,
where nobody should go.
The black hit of politics,
where nobody certainly,
should go.

Rubbish I know, but made it up, by the way, just now. But thanks to The Human League for inspiration.

Mon, 2011-01-10 13:57 — greed

Yep wish you never Etched that one Tee.....get it see what i done there Etch get it ...little play with words.
We were all hoping the Lib Dems would reign them in but there not ...what do the Libs stand for ????

Sat, 2011-01-08 11:18 — Robert (not verified)

Well.....it's what happens when you receive tactical anti-Tory support from Labour voters and create a Conservative government.

The same would have happened if a rainbow coalition had been formed. But more so as the press would have torn them to shreds which they are not doing at the moment.

Sat, 2011-01-08 19:13 — Hugh Markey (not verified)

Heard it on the grapevine. The Liberators intend bringing back capital punishment.
Only qualification - anyone in this government holding down a ministerial post. Does this let Simon avoid the drop?
Anti-hanging [ Honest, guv! I signed the petition ]

Fri, 2011-01-07 10:31 — R Spandit (not verified)

They are completely fucked!

Fri, 2011-01-07 10:37 — Joe Anderson (not verified)

Conservatives would have scrapped ID cards too. Barely a Liberal victory.

Fri, 2011-01-07 10:44 — George (not verified)

I concur with R Spandit

Fri, 2011-01-07 10:54 — jie4v7i14

The Earths core is seriously being approached...

Tidy.

Fri, 2011-01-07 10:58 — swatantra

Soon they'll be in the negative. Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!

Fri, 2011-01-07 11:28 — Villan (not verified)

There's no surprise in the Liberal Democrats' decline. That's what you get when you stick two fingers up at your own supporters. The worrying thing is why the Tories are so close to Labour even when they are quite clearly determined to destroy all but the most rich.

Fri, 2011-01-07 12:02 — Union Steve

Mr pledge the captain Smith of politics. Hits the iceberg of credibility.

Fri, 2011-01-07 12:11 — seanyprawny (not verified)

Can we please take care when using the word "progressive"? While reform of the libel laws is sensible, I'm not sure it is "progressive" in the way most of us would use that term.

The pupil premium is a "progressive" figleaf that is being used to distract attention from regressive measures against children and families such as cuts to SureStart, the loss of the child trust fund, health in pregnancy grants, the freezing of Working Tax credits and Child Benefit, loss of the EMA, etc.

The "progressive" pupil premium will not be much comfort to the thousands of families evicted from their homes in the coming months when housing benefit is cut.

Fri, 2011-01-07 12:28 — ang (not verified)

George. You've done it again! Giving the Lib dems credit, where creidt isn't due.
The pupil premium is a complete con, the money will be taken from other pupils. Robbing Peter to pay Paul, come on get your facts right!

Fri, 2011-01-07 15:30 — Ruff (not verified)

Villan makes the more important point, why are Labour doing so poorly over the Tories?

Fri, 2011-01-07 17:38 — James Beecher (not verified)

Why are labour doing so poorly over the tories - because everyone is pretty aware that - being another party of neoliberal economics - they'd be doing exactly the same things, just in a slightly slower and more successfully PR sensitive way. I'd like to see poll ratings done as percentage of the population who would actually vote rather than percentage of voters who'd choose each party. Lib Dems would be below 1% by now, no?

Tue, 2011-01-11 14:20 — jie4v7i14

greed - thanks, but very droll - etched, indeed. But thanks for the encouragement, I will work on it. : )