Labour's slight poll lead would be narrowly reversed
A poll by Survation of around 1,000 people has suggested that the Tories would overtake Labour in the polls if Labour supported a second referendum on EU membership.
The poll suggests that Labour’s support is currently at 41%, ahead of the Tories who are on 38%.
The pollsters said to people: “Imagine the Labour Party called for a second referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union. How would you vote?”
In this scenario, the Conservatives would increase their vote share from 38% to 40%. Labour’s share would decrease from 41% to 39%.
Perhaps counter-intuitively though, the poll suggests the Labour Party would lose far more votes if someone other than them called for a second referendum and the Labour Party did not support that call.
In this scenario, Labour’s support would drop to 33% while the Conservatives would rise to 42%.
Currently, the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the Green Parties of England and Wales and Scotland all support a second referendum.
The Labour Party’s position is that if Theresa May’s deal is voted down tommorow, she should call a general election.
If she doesn’t call a general election, they would consider calling for a second referendum – subject to an internal party discussion.
If a second referendum was to be held, the poll suggests that 51% would vote Remain whereas 49% would vote to Leave.
Joe Lo is a freelance journalist and a reporter for Left Foot Forward
Left Foot Forward doesn't have the backing of big business or billionaires. We rely on the kind and generous support of ordinary people like you.
You can support hard-hitting journalism that holds the right to account, provides a forum for debate among progressives, and covers the stories the rest of the media ignore. Donate today.