Labour struggles to make inroads as two new polls spell out strong Tory lead

Labour’s struggling position was confirmed again today, as new polls released show the Tories maintaining a commanding double-digit lead.

A survey by BMG showed the Tories with a 14 point lead, up three points from their last polls in September. The Conservatives were on 42 per cent while Labour remained on 28 per cent.

In a separate Guardian/ICM poll there was a 16 point lead for the Conservatives, down one point, while Labour moved up one to 27 per cent.

These numbers remain similar to those early in Theresa May’s premiership, when some explained Labour’s poor performance by pointing to the turmoil of the Opposition leadership contest.

The steadiness of Labour’s low polling numbers and the Conservatives’ lead suggests that Jeremy Corbyn’s party are struggling to make inroads into the popularity of the Government. Despite the Tories’ majority being reduced by Zac Goldsmith’s resignation, the controversy over Heathrow’s expansion and the continued fall in value of the pound the Conservative party continue to poll well.

Pro-Corbyn commentator Owen Jones, who has fired out warnings about Labour’s recent polling, responded to the latest research by saying:

Despite UKIP’s current leadership vacuum and negative headlines surrounding the fracas in the European Parliament, its support remains steady. In the Guardian/ICM poll, UKIP also have a one point bounce to 12 per cent and in the BMG poll they are fall one point to 12.

Last week former Miliband pollster James Morris warned that there is “no floor” for Labour’s support after carrying out focus groups with former supporters who now back UKIP in the North West. He wrote about his findings for LabourList over the weekend.

Ian Warren, who carried out the focus groups with Morris, this morning said that voters were still not aware of who shadow chancellor John McDonnell is, suggesting the party is struggling to cut through in many areas of the country.