Stephen Tall

Some interesting poll data from Ipsos-Mori who were asked by British Future to look at attitudes towards voting for the four main political parties. Here’s three points that stood out for the Lib Dems:

Four-in-10 voters would never consider voting for the Lib Dems, Conservatives or Ukip. Labour is less unpopular: one-in-three voters would never consider voting Labour.

Lib Dem supporter are the most anti-Ukip: 62% say they would never consider voting Ukip. This compares with 43% of Lib Dems saying they would never consider voting Conservative, and 38% saying they would never vote for Labour.

The feelings mutual… Ukip supporters are more anti-Lib Dem than either Conservative or Labour supporters: 71% saying they would never consider voting for the party compared with 49% of Conservatives and 56% of Labour supporters.

Two quick thoughts…

First, the polling bears out there’s not much cross-over between Lib Dem support and Ukip – which means Clegg’s strategy of taking the fight to Nigel Farage over Europe, even if it gives the Ukip leader a bigger platform, is probably worth the risk. If Farage picks up any votes, they’re least likely to be drawn from the Lib Dems.

And secondly, that more voters are prepared to consider voting for the Lib Dems only in the European elections (8%) than only in the general election (6%) also suggests there is an audience for ‘The party of IN’ – as Mike Smithson notes here. True, the difference is slight and within the margin of error. But that margin of error could mean the difference between the Lib Dems being wiped off the map on 22nd May and retaining a clutch of MEPs.

* Stephen Tall is Co-Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice, and editor of the 2013 publication, The Coalition and Beyond: Liberal Reforms for the Decade Ahead. He is also a Research Associate for the liberal think-tank CentreForum and writes at his own site, The Collected Stephen Tall.