LabourList readers predict hung parliament

As the general election is just around the corner, the attention we pay to opinion polls is at it’s peak. And with the latest polls showing that there’s not much between the two biggest parties – the Tories and Labour – we wanted to know what LabourList reader through the election result will be in May.

The news isn’t so great. As is reflected in the polls, most (46%) don’t think either the Labour Party or the Tories will win a majority next May. This most likely reflects LabourList reader’s understanding that many voters aren’t particularly attached to either of the main parties and that they’re increasingly unhappy with the ‘Westminster elite’.

However, all is not lost. 43% of readers think a Labour majority is the most likely outcome. This shows that although many aren’t apathetic, there is a hint of optimism that we can still swing it next May.

There’s a pretty strong consensus that the Tories won’t win a majority – with only 5% saying they think this will be the outcome of the election (and most are sure of their decision, whichever it is; only 6% said chose ‘don’t know’).

If these results are anything to do by then as it stands, there’s still all to play for.

Given that there’s so much uncertainty about what will happen at the general election, and, as our previous question shows, with an increasing number of people convinced that none of the parties will win an outright majority, we wanted to know if Labour are not the largest party, would you rather go into coalition or act as a minority government.

Given all the options, the largest number of people (38%) would rather that the Labour party choose to govern as a minority government, andc then rely on other parties for key votes.

However, if a coalition is on the cards, although they’ve only one MP at the moment it’s the Greens that most (24%) would like to see Labour partner up with. Interestingly, considering the logger-heads at which the two parties are at in Scotland, kust behind the Greens the SNP are the second-most favourable coalition partners, with 18%.

Only 11% of people thought the Lib Dems – the party most commonly referenced when the subject of a Labour coalition comes up  – would be the best coalition partners. And looking at the election results last night (where the Lib Dems lost their deposit – the 11th they lost since 2010, amounting to £5,500), and the news that Danny Alexander may lose his seat, it looks like the Lib Dems won’t be doing as well at the last election.

With 1% of people choosing Ukip – they’re the least wanted coalition partners for Labour. Not really a surprise that one. While 3% of people opted for ‘other coalition’ and 5% said they didn’t know out of all the options which was the best.

 We also asked for opinions on the Shadow Cabinet – you can see the results of that question here.

846 people voted in our weekly survey this week – thanks to everyone who took part.