Snap poll ‘ would give Tories lead of 30 seats’

THE Tories would win a majority of more than 30 seats in a snap general election if the new Independent Group of MPs was a choice at the ballot box, a poll revealed yesterday.

The launch of the breakaway group of rebel MPs could cost Labour millions of votes as long as Jeremy Corbyn remains leader.

In the first test of public opinion since The Independent Group was formed last week, the Deltapoll research gave the Tories a 39 per cent share of support with Labour on 31 per cent.

Behind the two major parties, a possible new anti- Brexit party based on The Independent Group came in third place with 11 per cent. Sir Vince Cable’s Lib Dems had 5 per cent with Ukip on 4 per cent.

Yet Labour would edge into a poll lead if Mr Corbyn was no longer the party leader. The survey put Labour in the lead on 40 per cent ahead of the Tories on 37 per cent if the party had someone else in charge.

Breakaway

In such circumstances, the breakaway group could expect 7 per cent with the Lib Dems on 6 per cent and Ukip on 3 per cent.

A similar vote share would make Labour the largest party in the Commons but short of an overall majority.

Former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna was the favoured choice by 13 per cent of voters to lead any new party formed by The Independent Group.

Mr Corbyn’s personal rating slipped from minus 32 per cent last month to minus 38 per cent and a poll found that 63 per cent wanted him to quit.

In contrast, Theresa May’s rating improved from minus 25 per cent to minus 22 per cent.

Joe Twyman, of Deltapoll, said: “These results show there is at least some potential for The Independent Group to have an impact on British politics and, so far at least, that impact appears to hurt Labour more than the Tories.”

● Deltapoll interviewed 1,027 British adults online between last Thursday and Saturday.