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New poll puts Ken and Boris neck-and-neck
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent09.04.08
Ken Livingstone is ahead in the race to be the next Mayor by just one point, a new poll found today.
An Ipsos-Mori survey for Unison put the Mayor on 41 per cent, while his Tory rival Boris Johnson picked up 40 per cent of those certain to vote.
Mr Livingstone's lead was particularly strong among young voters with 55 per cent of 18 to 34- year-olds saying they would back him compared with 29 per cent supporting Mr Johnson.
But among over-55s, who are more likely to turn out on polling day, the Tory candidate led 46 per cent to 39 per cent.
Today's poll put Lib-Dem candidate Brian Paddick on 14 per cent and Green candidate Sian Berry on five per cent of those certain to vote.
It comes after a YouGov poll for the Evening Standard on Monday put Mr Johnson 13 points ahead.
Today's survey will bring some relief to Mr Livingstone's campaign with the Mayor claiming it proved the contest was neck and neck.
Among all London's potential voters, the gap was even wider at 45 per cent for Mr Livingstone and 38 per cent for Mr Johnson.
Mr Livingstone said: "It's very encouraging-No one really knows whether the most accurate figures are [people] certain to vote or everyone expressing a preference. In some elections it's one, in some elections it's the other. I think everybody gets the feeling in London this is going to be a neck and neck race."
The poll showed a narrowing of the gap between the two main candidates from three points to one since the last Mori poll in February.
That survey, commissioned by the Labour Party, put Mr Livingstone three points ahead on 38 per cent, to Mr Johnson's 35 per cent.
But on all other headline figures the gap between the two remained static.
In a straight run-off between the two candidates Mr Livingstone's lead remained at two points - 51 per cent to 49 per cent - among those certain to vote.
Among all potential voters, the Mayor picked up 54 per cent of the vote to Mr Johnson's 46 per cent.
London government expert Tony Travers said: "The Mori poll suggests that it's a neck and neck race.
"All the polls viewed together suggest such a messy pictures that there's everything to play for for both sides."
Mr Johnson is keeping up the pressure on the Mayor, saying that he will not be standing after a second term in a bid to make himself more accountable to voters.
Mr Johnson said he would end "the culture of cronyism" at City Hall - and restore people's faith in how money is spent - by introducing rules for mayoral advisers that ensure their interests are declared and in the open.
Reader views (15)
The Tory party has let London down by putting forward buffoon Boris forward as a candidate. It's painful to hear him answer a straightforward question. Anyone but him. Please.
- C, London
"Mr Livingstone's lead was particularly strong among young voters with 55 per cent of 18 to 34- year-olds saying they would back him compared with 29 per cent supporting Mr Johnson."
This is no doubt why Labour support a Facebook campaign to get more young people voting in the mayoral elections- they think most 'young people' who use Facebook will support Ken.
- Robert Cunningham, Harrow, London, UK
Please, for the love of God, London, vote Boris!
Get Red Ken out!
- Joe, London
'The mayor can not make this city great,but he can mess it up'. Well said Livingstone,what took you so long to get the message you have certainly done that and with no one to blame but yourself, you've had long enough so stop blaming everyone but yourself be a man if that's possible in this pc world and go.
- Frank,, Chelsea.
I didn't realise that Ken now has Robert Mugabe working for him.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK
For the love of god and common sense please don't let that liar Livingstone back in!
- Jimbob, Kensington
The only way Londoners can guarantee change is to cast a massive vote for anyone else but Brown's stooge, Red Ken.
- Peter_Pan, Great Britain
Obviously this vote is not to be trusted completely - the mere fact that it is related to Unison would suggest a left-wing influence.
On the other hand if Ken really is ahead then God help us all - I am sick of his nasty, oppressive, tax-extorting regime!
Vote for anyone but crooked Chairman Ken!
- Daniel Howard, London,UK
So which poll is more accurate? Looks like every vote is going to count.
- Winston, Lndn
Surely we're not going to get a third round of that pathetic clown (or crook should I say ?)
Ken has had more than his time to fill his pockets with our money, please, let him go and retire. Bad enough that he will never put back all the money he 'diverted', we cannot possibly afford for that sad face to stay in charge. Please vote anyone but that dreadful man....
- Thalbach, Josephine, London
Isn't amazing how the right questions to the the right people can tell you exactly what you want to hear?
Plus or minus a couple of percentage points? That's a laugh. One good poll would be to review the complaints vs the kudos found here and elsewhere by people who are moved to comment. Seems to be more than a couple of points difference there, methinks. Not so much that they favour the blue, just that they don't favour the red. (Green seems passe this year too).
- Rogan, DFW Texas
I still think - despite all the smear campaigns against him - that Ken is the best man for the job. I couldn't give a hoot if he has not barked on about having kids from a previous relationship. He has done more good things for London than bad things. I doubt a former Eton educated Toff like Boris Johnson, with absolutely no real political experience, could be in control of a major city like London. In fact he would be a disaster.
- Lizzie Gould, London
Presumably this mori poll for Unison (a union, I believe, therefore maybe slightly biased towards the left) is ethnically aware, unlike the YouGov one that so irked the soon-to-be ex-Mayor?
I also note that Ken has not questioned the credentials of this poll, presumably as it is telling him something he wants to hear.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, UK
Let's face it Ken really needs more time to spend with ALL of this children... So voting for him again would be doing him and his various family units an immense disservice!
Furthermore, with all the allegations against Ken that appear in the press these days one would have to believe that he will be spending an inordinate amount of time in Court over the next couple of years, in his personal legal cases, where he is attempting to clear his name and prove beyond all reasonable doubt that he is an honest and trustworthy individual. That is, of course, assuming that the allegations are untrue!
- Fraser, Telford Park
Phew, I'm a big Ken supporter but thankfully it now looks like I don't need to worry about bothering to vote.
- St, London
