Poll List: Tories below 40% and UKIP up after Europe row

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

A Populus poll for tomorrow’s Times shows little change amongst the main parties, with Labour (29%) and the Tories (39%) both down a point and no change for the Lib Dems on 18%, compared with the same poll last month.

UKIP were the main beneficiaries (up two to 4.3%) of a month in which Europe dominated the debate – particularly on the right.

The full data from the poll are not yet released, but the Times is also reporting:

“Public optimism about the economy has recovered strongly this autumn, particularly in the south-east and among the middle classes.

The poll shows that the number of voters thinking the country as a whole will do well over the next year has risen from a quarter to a third since July and is now the highest since April 2008. But nearly two-thirds still think the country will do badly over the next year.”

The Times also says:

“The number expecting a hung parliament has slipped from 57 to 50 per cent in the past month, the lowest level since the question was first asked in April. By contrast, the number expecting a hung parliament with no overall majority has risen from 17 to 26 per cent. However, nearly two-thirds, 65 per cent, still expect the Tories to be the largest party, against just 27 per cent for Labour.”