Clegg mania sees surge in support

ELECTION 2010

Support for the Liberal Democrats across the North West is increasing faster than most other areas of the country as Clegg mania continues to sweep the nation.

According to a PoliticsHome/YouGov poll the Lib-Dems are up seven points in the region along with the East of England.

The party has enjoyed an unprecedented boost in the past week after leader Nick Clegg outshone Gordon Brown and David Cameron in the first General Election televised leaders debate.

A sample of 1,063 people were taken across the North-West which showed the Lib-Dem surge appears to be hitting the Tories hardest. Labour are leading on 37 — down two on the same time last week, Tories are second on 34 —down four, and Lib Dems on 22 — up seven, other parties are on seven, down one.

Across the country the Lib-Dems have gained in every region.

Labour has had mixed fortunes, gaining support in the North-East and Wales, but falling in the North-West and Yorkshire. It has been a bad week for the Conservatives across the country. Their support has fallen or remained static in every region apart from London where they are up one point.

Across the regions the poll puts the Tories ahead on 37, Labour on 31 and the Lib-Dems on 24.

Rattled Tory leader Mr Cameron ditched a planned election broadcast due to be showed yesterday fearing it was too negative.

He quickly recorded an alternative highlighting the positives and telling voters why he should be the Prime Minister.

It showed Tory leader David Cameron warning viewers: “The only way we’re going to get that change is through a clear, decisive result at this election.

“Any other result would lead to more indecision and more of the old politics. We might even be stuck with what we’ve got now.”

Labour’s Business Secretary Peter Mandelson admitted Mr Clegg had to be taken seriously because many people thought “Labour has had a good innings”.

He said: ‘’I think Nick Clegg does have to be taken seriously because he has entered the fray and appealed to a lot of people who feel Labour has had a good innings, and feel it’s someone else’s turn, but who have looked at David Cameron’s Tories and baulked at them becoming the government.”

The next televised Leader’s debate will be held tomorrow in Bristol.

The data was collected between April 11 and 18

A repeat poll will be carried out next week.

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