The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

A worrying poll for Ken

Boris leads Ken by 48 per cent to 41 per cent in latest mayoral election poll.

By George Eaton Published 21 June 2011 13:45

The latest YouGov poll on the London mayoral election won't make happy reading for Team Ken. The poll puts Boris on 48 per cent among those who are certain to vote, with Ken trailing on 41 per cent. Boris's lead has risen by four points since February when he led by 45 per cent to 42 per cent. In a straight fight between Ken and Boris (excluding "Liberal Democrat candidate"), Boris would win by 49 per cent to 41 per cent.

Significantly, Boris leads among Lib Dem supporters - the swing voters in this contest - by 41 per cent to 30 per cent. Worryingly for Ken, just 63 per cent of London Labour voters would vote for him were an election to be held tomorrow, with nearly a fifth (19 per cent) backing Boris.

After failing to win back control of the Scottish Parliament from the SNP, it's important for Labour and Ed Miliband that Ken succeeds in London. But, as things stand, that is looking increasingly unlikely. The fact that Labour is leading in London by 51 per cent (+3) to the Tories' 32 per cent (+1) will be cited by some as evidence that an alternative candidate could be performing better.

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Tags: Ken Livingstone Boris Johnson

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24 comments

Wed, 2011-06-22 20:15 — Luddite (not verified)

antigone* 'Tory fascism is destroying our democratic nation, and needs to be defeated at every election'. Typical Livingstone supporter. I see nothing fascist about this Liberal coalition government. This 'fascist' government has done more to help and support the working poor then New Labour ever did, another point it's fucking Livingstone that invites religious fascists to the capital and lavishes praises on that homophobic anti-Semitic medieval religious fuck-wit..

Tue, 2011-06-21 23:35 — Arthur O'Connor

Boris is incompetent, a liar and is a bumbling idiot. His best role is that of comedian and word smith. He does however have charisma and the backing of the right winged press and of the city who will fund him. He knows nothing about economics but is trumpeted by the Telegraph when he panders to the europhiles and says the Greeks should leave the Euro and be left to founder. That's what's wrong with our country. Ken's pissing against the wind. But it is time for Boris to go - someone should be found to oppose him.

Tue, 2011-06-21 23:42 — Rick (not verified)

Oona King should have been Labour candidate. Simple as that. Instead we have a choice between a middle aged white man who thinks the job is his by right and a middle aged white man who thinks it's his by birth. Hardly a fitting advertisement for the multicultural melting pot that is London.

It doesn't matter which of these two clowns get the job, we'll all still get lied to and shafted.

Wed, 2011-06-22 07:12 — Luddite (not verified)

Ken would be a political disaster if elected. Mr. i only care about myself Livingstone, will only remind many of Labour's past monumental political mistakes. Labour's love affair with Islamic-fascism. Labour 's disastrous and divisive multiculturalism. Ken is old discredited politics, the kind of polities that will keep 'old Labour' in the political wilderness. We need to move on from student politics, and embrace the real world.

Wed, 2011-06-22 07:12 — antigone2

*Ken Livingston is suffering from the Labour Partys absence from the political scene.
*As soon a Ed Miliband completes his "review" of policies, hopefully Ken will expose obese Johnson for what he is, a rightwing extremist who is ignorant and bigoted.
A terrible scandle of the politics of class being used by the tories, to stamp on the poor, vunerable and the working class.
*London will be stupid to support that which hates them. The tories.

Wed, 2011-06-22 07:26 — antigone2

@Luddite 06.12

*Tory fascism is destroying our democratic nation, and needs to be defeated at every election.
Ken Livingston will begin the clean out of tory sh*t from the streets of London, and have a clean political environment for the Olympic.
*Cameron fears Ken winning, he's right to be in fear, for Ken is a great politician, as opposed to poggy Johnson who is a sick joke.

Wed, 2011-06-22 08:28 — John P Reid (not verified)

antugone-calling the tories fascists pathetic, as for the fact that kens not ding well due to the labour party, labour are ahead in the polls

Wed, 2011-06-22 10:11 — Dave C (not verified)

"Privately, the Boris campaign is more cautious. Their own research tells them that the Tory party in London is 20 points behind Labour."

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/benedictbrogan/100093218/boris-johnson...

Wed, 2011-06-22 11:48 — Robert (not verified)

Boris is a muppet he's an idiot. Ken would be a lot better I suspect but wouldn't it be better for Labour to have a new candidate?

Wed, 2011-06-22 12:26 — My Name Is God (not verified)

Arguing over who should be Mayor of London is like arguing over whether it's best to fill a sandwich with sewage or broken glass. Either way you're going to have a shit time.

Wed, 2011-06-22 13:47 — frances smith (not verified)

its a funny thing, i was reading about this poll in the telegraph a short while ago, in an article written by benedict brogan. in which he concluded that boris' popularity was being maintained by attacking the coalition.

so boris is attacking the coalition from the left, while labour is attacking the coalition from the right. and ken is caught up in ed milibands failure to abandon blairism.

oh well, funny old world!

Wed, 2011-06-22 13:54 — frances smith (not verified)

and interestingly boris might well be moving into the alex salmond type presidential style campaign.

while ken livingstone is trapped in the same place as scottish labour were, but i'm not sure how they got trapped there.

Tue, 2011-06-21 14:04 — Marcus (not verified)

People have long memories of the bad old days under Ken.

They remember the policies that did so much to damage life in the capital. They remember the LondON campaigns of self-glorification.

Most of all they remember his ineptitude.

Tue, 2011-06-21 14:09 — Graeme (not verified)

Marcus, you are talking about yourself.

Sat, 2011-07-23 19:36 — hugh markey (not verified)

Boris will almost certainly win. Then disaster. Check out the Ides of March 2012!

Soothsayer

Tue, 2011-06-21 14:17 — Stu (not verified)

No matter what you say about Boris being a nutter, I think he's got a good funny persona, we don't want a grumpy git to rule London do we?

As for politics, we're all screwed no matter where you live these days... deal with it.

Tue, 2011-06-21 14:39 — thinkov

time for team young lefty

Tue, 2011-06-21 15:01 — Marcus (not verified)

@Greame - No, no i'm not. I'm talking about Ken as that is what the article is about.

Tue, 2011-06-21 15:06 — puzzlebobble (not verified)

@Marcus; what as the "so much damage" Ken did to the capital? Can you name anything that wasn't bu****t spun bu The Evening Boris?

Under Boris fares have shot up and public transport has got worse. He's just incompetent. Funny bloke but useless.

Tue, 2011-06-21 15:13 — Alistair Cole (not verified)

I remember when Ken referred to Evening Standard journalist oliver finnegold as a 'concentration camp guard' (oliver is jewish) and enthusiastically invited Islamic extremist Yusuf al Quadari to London. This man is not fit for office in the UK. Perhaps he should move to Iran with his love of Islamist sentiment!

Tue, 2011-06-21 16:19 — gerry (not verified)

Sadly - for Ken - the haemorrhage of the Lib Dem vote has gone over to the Tories, reflecting the national trend.

Plus, Most London Lib Dem activists and voters HATE and detest Labour, including Ken...far more than they do Boris and the Tories. Fact!

Tue, 2011-06-21 17:25 — Dave C (not verified)

This poll seems flawed to me. It gives support for the "The Liberal Democrat candidate" as 2%.

Much as I'd like to believe that were true, it seems hopelessly out: I'd expect their support in London to be around 8% at least.

Tue, 2011-06-21 19:57 — Fergus Pickering (not verified)

Any fule no that Boris will trounce Ken. Even Ken knows. Ken's quite funnyi his own hamsterish way and he will fnd plenty to do on HIGNFY and stuff like that. As for a young lefty contesting the seat, wll, why doesn't your Laurie have a go? Next time, of course. Can Boris have a third go. I presume he can.