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Brown faces losing 25 per cent of London seats
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor19 Jan 2009
ONE in four Labour MPs in London are facing "wipeout" after a new Evening Standard poll found Tory support had soared.
But the YouGov/Standard survey gives Gordon Brown a crumb of comfort as it shows that the Conservatives' lead in the capital is much tighter than in the country overall.
The Tories are on 43 per cent to Labour's 37 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats on 13 per cent. Conservative support has rocketed by 11 points since the last general election, while Labour is down two per cent.
In a worrying result for Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, already suffering from the drop in support in last year's mayoral election, his party is down nine per cent on the 2005 result.
If today's poll result is applied to every constituency, Labour would lose 11 of its 44 seats on the new boundaries and the Lib-Dems five.
The Standard survey found David Cameron's support in London stems largely from strong backing among the over-55s, where 53 per cent of voters back the Tories to just 28per cent for Labour.
Labour is ahead among 35- to 55-year-olds by 42 per cent to 39per cent for the Conservatives. Among under-35s, Labour also has a one point lead.
High on the danger list is backbencher Rudi Vis, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green - the number one Labour target for the Conservatives. His 2005 majority of 741 is reduced to an estimated 31 after boundary changes.
Glenda Jackson's 3,279 majority is reduced to a third of that size by boundary changes at Hampstead & Kilburn.
Also vulnerable is Emily Thornberry, whose 7,280 majority of 2005 is slashed to roughly 484 by boundary reforms. Others in the "killing fields" include Martin Linton, nursing a 163 majority in Battersea.
A nationwide YouGov/Sunday Times poll put the Tories on 45per cent to Labour's 32 per cent yesterday.
Reader views (22)
In which case it might be worth noting the following:
On the 16th of May 2008 the High Court ruled that MPs’ expenses must be published under the Freedom of Information Act.
This Thursday, MPs are voting to change the law to keep their expenses secret after all, just before publication was due and after spending nearly a million of your pounds and seven months compiling the data.
Contact your local MP and make sure they vote against this proposal.
- Bob, Cheam, 20/01/2009 09:49
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The real killer would be for everyone to get Affordable Internet Access (AIA) instead of massively expensive Govt Databases such as costly ID, Tax Returns and TV licenses etc.
This would allow more people to dig intelligently around into what is really happening to the country and what it is costing in human misery and the lost opportunities to do this for a laboring decade.
Since we can no longer trust politicians - who cover-up their Inflated Expenses - we, the people need to be heard for a change rather than talked down to and lectured to by hypocrites in luxurious comfort zones in denial of their incompetence and arrogance, while the Burn Billions & Trillions of OUR money & humble savings.
AIA would empower and allow people to be responsible for their own destinies rather than being 'On-the-Bus' going over the proverbial cliff. It would halve the public administration cost - which Sir Digby-Jones highlighted recently.
And what is more it would bring a truer Democracy and some commonsense to ALL OUR LIVES and not just the privileged few in the misnamed public service.
We could then all aim and be able to live within our means instead of pretending money is no object in High-Cost, High-Taxation Treasure Island Britain.
This is Labour's legacy - so much for 'Things can only get better'. Labour are very good at getting their share of the economic cake and experts in eating and wasting it. The secret of how to create the wealth and bake the cake is a mirage to them.
- Bill, Swindon UK, 20/01/2009 08:54
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Excellent News! I'm sure will be seen across the country.
- Barry Bennett, Bournemouth, 19/01/2009 21:41
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Well why anybody vote for a party who neglects the London voting public... by not listening to London resoundedly AGAINST Heathrow mess expansion, AGAINST the Olympics mess, FOR stronge policing etc. etc. etc. London cannot be the tax honey pot forever! My vote is now firmly Conservatives!!
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 19/01/2009 18:51
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The question still remains, what kind of person is still voting Labour in 2009?
We need to help these poor souls, give them some medication or something
- Lb, London, 19/01/2009 16:16
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Only 25 per cent? Labour will be bringing in more bent postal votes and delaying the election until the last moment.
- Roger, Surrey, 19/01/2009 15:20
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This is awful news, yet more bad news for Labour meaning "Super" Brown Pants and Captain Darling wont call an election for over a year. I am not sure I or the country can sstand one more year of old new old Labour.
- Charliej, London, 19/01/2009 15:19
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And he will lose more now that he has ignored the locals helping Heathrow again with some state money to expand. Heathrow is a very bad reflection of London service and should be closed. We deserve a new airport further away from homes, better linked to the city centre and with a proper management. BAA is a disgrace and should not receive UK state susbsidies!
- Sally, London, 19/01/2009 15:18
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What about the other 75%??! Brown has given us the highest tax regime ever, no management, no investment in infrastructure, the grandiose Olympics debacle, bad schools, bad hospitals, crime, social mess, debt, debt and debt.
- Steveo, London, 19/01/2009 15:13
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My council tax has gone up 106% since labour came to power. I am next door to Wandsworth with the lowest council tax in the country. It is a Conservative borough.
As they have managed this system so well it would not be a bad idea for the Conservatives to apply this on a national basis, they will win the next election, the stealth taxing money grabber brown is out.
- Douglas Macdonald, LONDON, 19/01/2009 14:50
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Well said Duncan.I need not comment now,you've summed it up!
- Steve, London, 19/01/2009 14:48
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Good! Who in their right mind will miss the shenanigans of this goldarned New Labor goverment. A 'Ship of Fools' is more like it, Mr Broone the Capt of the 'Titanic UK' ordering his deck officers to swap the deck chairs from the port to the starboard sides 'Just in case there is some more sun there!'
Mr Broone is like 'Big Burd' bimbling and bumbling around chucking Taxpayers cash at anything and everything, like a group of drunks on a Booze crawl.
Oh Sorry, Mr Broone is 'Big Burd!'
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK, 19/01/2009 14:21
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It’s sad to see that its the people of my generation (35 – 55 olds) that seem to be a bunch of brainwashed left-wing idiots and still support NuLabour, they’re still probably blaming Thatcher who saved us from the last Labour disaster for what’s happening now. But no matter how much of my and my children’s money Brown throws at HIS mess this meltdown will eventually destroy him and this dreadful.
- Stephen, London, 19/01/2009 14:05
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And the rest ...
- Dave, cumbria, 19/01/2009 13:52
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Only 25% ? Some mistake surely ?
- Michael, London, 19/01/2009 13:45
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Brown was never going to get my vote in the first place. I'll be voting Tory, for the first time in years.
- Triffidqueen, London, 19/01/2009 13:34
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i have voted labour all my life but the appalling attitude of Lambeth Housing means that i will never vote labour again for as long as i live in Lambeth.
Never mind the economy, why does Lambeth trests its residients in such a dreadful and unsympathetic way?
- James, london UK, 19/01/2009 13:33
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At least this attitude of not calling an Election until it is too late will finish the Labour Party off once and for all during the remainder of my lifetime and i suspect many others.
- Harvey Lawrence, London UK, 19/01/2009 13:00
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If Brown holds out till the last before he calls an election then I can see the Labour party as it is will be finished as a political party. If he goes now they will live to fight another day. Sadly he seems intent on clinging to power no matter what the people think.
- Duncan Walker, Lucky to live in Thailand, 19/01/2009 11:41
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If there is no election then how can Brown lose. In Zimbabwe they have been at this impasse for several years and Brown is going for it as well...
- Georgie, Islington, London, 19/01/2009 11:24
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no mention of votes for other parties...why no BNP or Green Party for example?
- Gary, amersham, 19/01/2009 11:11
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Thank goodness - The Airport shambles based on political calculation and avery unhealthy relationship between BAA and Labour party activists on Crash Gordons cabinet office and advisory circle have been exposed and the principles of honesty and transparency finally showing up this bunch of criminals for what they are.
- Christian Ball, London, UK, 19/01/2009 11:05
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