SNP opens up record lead over Labour

A new YouGov poll showing a record lead for the party in Westminster voting intentions – with Labour set to pay a high price for their alliance with the Tories. The poll, reported in today’s edition of the Times, shows support for the SNP has increased by one point to 48 per cent – 21 points ahead of Labour on 27 per cent, which represents a record lead for the SNP in a YouGov poll.

Even amongst those who are currently intending to vote Labour 21 per cent think that the SNP would be better at speaking up for Scotland at Westminster, a view shared by 58 per cent of respondents. The poll also shows that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has a net satisfaction rating of +42 per cent – while Labour’s Jim Murphy’s ratings stand at -10 per cent. Among those who voted Labour in 2010, 36 per cent believe Mr Murphy is doing a bad job.

The YouGov poll in the Times shows the following:

Scottish National Party 48% (+1)
Scottish Labour party 27%
Scottish Conservatives 15% (-1)
Scottish Liberal Democrats 4% (+1)
Other 6% (-1)

When asked how Nicola Sturgeon as performing as First Minister, 64 per cent of people said 'well' while only 14 per cent said 'badly'.

When asked how Jim Murphy is performing as Labour leader, 33 per cent said 'well' and 43 per cent said 'badly'

Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader and Campaign Director Angus Robertson MP said: "The record levels of support for the SNP reflect the fact that we will always put the interests of the people of Scotland front and centre. But we are taking absolutely nothing for granted, and will work hard for every vote and seat in May. This poll will also be a blow for Jim Murphy as his ‘reverse honeymoon’ shows no signs of ending. On Trident, austerity and fracking, Jim Murphy has failed every major test of his leadership so far – and this poll shows that the people of Scotland simply aren’t impressed. In contrast, Nicola Sturgeon is considered to be doing a good job by a vast majority of people in Scotland."

Continuing Mr Robertson said: "Even a substantial number of people who are still intending to vote Labour realise that the SNP are the party who will stand up for Scotland’s interests – despite a change of management, it’s clear that Scottish Labour is still viewed as nothing more than a ‘branch office’ of London. In recent weeks, we have seen Labour MPs voting with the Tories for £30 billion more austerity cuts, voting with the Tories to spend £100 billion on a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons, and abstaining on a key vote for a fracking moratorium. That is why we need the real influence for Scotland that only a strong team of SNP MPs can deliver – to be a real force for change."

"The Westminster establishment are scared stiff, because a strong team of SNP MPs holding the balance of power means that Scotland's interests can’t be ignored. The Tories have been rejected in election after election in Scotland, and the SNP would never help them into power. By electing SNP MPs, the people of Scotland can vote to get rid of the Tories, and have a powerful, progressive voice to protect and promote Scottish interests - a message we will be hammering home from now until May." Angus Robertson added.

Greens majorly popular with 18-24 year-olds

The Green Party is polling on 22% and tied with the Conservatives for second place amongst 18-24 year-olds in the latest YouGov polling. The polling released today further calls into question Ofcom’s initial view that the Green Party is not a ‘major party’. YouGov’s research puts the Greens comfortably ahead of both the Liberal Democrats and Ukip.

The Prime Minister David Cameron and political commentators from across the political spectrum have called for the Greens to be included in the broadcasters’ proposed Leaders’ Debates.

Natalie Bennett, Green Party Leader, said: "Polling such as this from YouGov clearly demonstrates the strength of the ‘Green surge’. The broadcasters and the regulator need to recognise that the politics of the future does not have to look like the politics of the past. Denying the Green Party ‘major party’ status or an invitation to the Leaders’ Debates fails both our democracy and the electorate. Attempting to exclude the Green voice from the mainstream of British politics looks more and more ridiculous by the day."

The Green Party is polling at its highest levels ahead of a General Election since 1989, a breakthrough year. Membership of the Green Party of England and Wales skyrocketed by 123% in 2014 and continues to surge in 2015. The current number of members stands at 32,515. Membership of the Scottish Greens, a sister party, more than quadrupled in 2014 and stands at almost 8,000 meaning the combined parties have a membership of over 40,000.

The Green Party is standing candidates in at least 75% of seats in May 2015. That means 50% more people will be able to vote Green in 2015 than were able to do so five years ago.

Greens poll on highest ever percentage with YouGov

A YouGov survey for the Sun puts the Green Party on 8%, the highest ever result for the party with the leading pollster. The Green Party’s average polling score with YouGov has risen by three percentage points in the last six months.

The latest poll marks the second time in recent weeks that YouGov has put the Greens ahead of the Liberal Democrats (7% in latest poll). The Greens have also out-polled the junior Coalition partners in a recent Ashcroft National Poll.

The Green Party, the only party offering a genuine alternative to business-as-usual Westminster politics, has challenged the broadcasters’ proposals to exclude the Greens from the planned televised Leaders’ Debates ahead of the 2015 General Election. Almost 270,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for the Greens to be included.

Some leading political commentators have suggested that polling which puts the Greens ahead of the Lib Dems puts pressure on the broadcasters to invite the Greens in the interest of both democracy and fairness. “It (the polling) will spark fresh calls from the Greens to be included in pre-election TV debates - after broadcasters revealed plans to exclude them”, suggested the Sun today.

The polling surge is mirrored by the Green Party of England and Wales’ rapid membership growth in 2014. GPEW Membership stands at 25,799 and is up a striking 87% since January 1 2014. On May 22 2014, the Greens comfortably outperformed the Lib Dems in the European parliament elections both in terms of total vote and MEPs returned

Greens fourth in latest YouGov polling

The Green Party has moved ahead of the Liberal Democrats in the latest YouGov polling for the Sun. In the latest poll, released late last night, the Greens are in fourth and up two percentage points to 7%.

The poll comes hot on the heels of an Ashcroft National Poll (ANP) last week, which also put the Greens in fourth and ahead of the junior Coalition partners. The ANP poll marked the first time in a decade that the Greens have out-performed the Lib Dems in a poll ahead of a General Election.

The Green Party’s average polling score with pollsters YouGov has risen by three percentage points in the last six months. On May 22 2014, the Greens comfortably outperformed the Lib Dems in the European parliament elections both in terms of total vote and MEPs returned.

The Green Party, the only party offering a genuine alternative to business-as-usual Westminster politics, has challenge the broadcasters’ proposals to exclude the Greens from the planned televised Leaders’ Debates ahead of the 2015 General Election. Almost 200,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the Greens to be invited.

Leading political commentators have suggested that polling which puts the Greens ahead of the Lib Dems puts pressure on the broadcasters to invite the Greens in the interest of both democracy and fairness. The polling surge is mirrored by the Green Party of England and Wales’ rapid membership growth in 2014.

Here's is how some of the key political commentators on Twitter reacted:

Patrick Wintour of the Telegraph "On day BBC tell Greens they cannot join TV debates due to lack of increase in support, YouGov put Greens ahead of Lib Dems for first time."

Owen Jones of the Guardian "Greens will be rightly chirpy about driving the Lib Dems into fifth place in the latest YouGov. Labour back to 3 point lead. Not good enough"

Tom Newton-Dunn from the Sun "YouGov/Sun poll tonight: Greens push Libs into 5th for 1st time with @YouGov - LAB 34%, CON 31%, UKIP 17%, GRN 7%, LD 6%. Yet no TV debate?"

George Eaton from the New Statesman: "Tonight's @YouGov poll has the Greens ahead of the Lib Dems for the first time (7%-6%)."

Sunny Hundal from Liberal Conspiracy "YouGov poll shows Greens pushing LDs into 5th place for first time LAB 34% CON 31% UKIP 17% GRN 7% LD 6% They should be in TV debates."

Jon Stone, formerly of Politics Home "YouGov becomes the second pollster to show the Green Party ahead of the Liberal Democrats - 7% vs 6% http://bit.ly/1tiiJXm"

How the parties compare on separate issues

YouGov poll shows the differences between the three main Westminster parties on certain issues, the figures are below:

Which political party do you think can handle the problems in NHS the best?
Conservative 22
Labour 32 -2
Liberal Democrat 6
Other 9
None of them 13 +2
Don't know 18

Which political party do you think can handle the problems in asylum and immigration the best?
Conservative 24 +3
Labour 15 +2
Liberal Democrat 6
Other 25 -4
None of them 13 -1
Don't know 16 -1

Which political party do you think can handle the problems of law and order the best?
Conservative 33 +1
Labour 19 -1
Liberal Democrat 5
Other 12 -1
None of them 10
Don't know 21 +1

Which political party do you think can handle the problems in education the best?
Conservative 25 -2
Labour 28 +1
Liberal Democrat 7 -2
Other 11 +1
None of them 9
Don't know 20 +2

Which political party do you think can handle taxation the best?
Conservative 30 -1
Labour 23 -1
Liberal Democrat 8 +2
Other 9
None of them 9
Don't know 18 -1

Which political party do you think can handle unemployment the best?
Conservative 30 +2
Labour 24 -2
Liberal Democrat 5 +1
Other 11 -1
None of them 10 -1
Don't know 20 +1

Which political party do you think can handle the economy in general?
Conservative 35 -1
Labour 19 -1
Liberal Democrat 5
Other 11 +1
None of them 10 -1
Don't know 20 +1

Which political party do you think can handle the issue of Europe the best?
Conservative 19
Labour 17
Liberal Democrat 7 -1
Other 25
None of them 11 -1
Don't know 19 +1

Which political party do you think can handle the issue of welfare benefits the best?
Conservative 27 +1
Labour 27
Liberal Democrat 6 -1
Other 13
None of them 10
Don't know 17

Which political party do you think can handle the issue of housing the best?
Conservative 20
Labour 28 +1
Liberal Democrat 7
Other 12 +1
None of them 12 -1
Don't know 21 -1

Its make or break for Miliband the unloved

By Peter Kellner of YouGov

Scotland’s drama holds two big and uncomfortable lessons for Ed Miliband. The first is that the referendum campaign revealed the unpopularity of Labour’s leader in a part of Britain that his party used to dominate, and whose votes he needs if he is to become Prime Minister.

On the eve of Thursday’s vote, YouGov found that only 25% of Scots trusted him, while 67% did not. His figures were virtually the same as David Cameron’s – a shocking equality for a country which dislikes the Conservatives so much that it currently has only one Tory MP, compared with Labour’s 41. Gordon Brown’s interventions may well have helped the No campaign secure its victory last week; Miliband’s did not.

In practical terms, Miliband needs to shore up Labour’s support in Scotland between now and next year’s election. The risks and consequences of failure are great. Suppose that next spring, Scottish voters feel that London’s politicians have ratted on their pledge to act swiftly to transfer big new powers to Scotland. They might well turn to the SNP.

Only three Labour seats are vulnerable to a 5% swing to the SNP; but then comes a tipping point. An 8% swing would cost Labour 19 seats – and probably Miliband’s hopes of becoming Prime Minister.

This means that Miliband must show Scotland’s voters that his commitment to further devolution is real, and not just a shallow, panic-driven reaction in the past fortnight to YouGov’s dramatic poll in this paper two weeks ago showing the collapse of Better Together’s lead north of the border.

But the more Miliband offers Scotland, the more he risks alienating England’s voters. The second big lesson from last week’s vote is that striking the right balance will be immensely tricky.

This is clear from YouGov’s latest Sunday Times survey. Not surprisingly, 72% of English voters think Scottish MPs should no longer have the vote in Parliament on issues that affect only England. Perhaps more significantly, as many as 55% also think that Scottish MPs should play no part in tax and spending decisions taken in London, even though these do affect life in Scotland. And almost two thirds of English voters want to scrap the “Barnett formula”, which ensures that Scotland receives more publish spending cash per person than England from central government.

Miliband’s task would be more manageable were he to have the cushion of high personal ratings across Britain. He doesn’t. It’s not just Scottish voters who are wary of him.

Just 21% of Britons think he is doing well as party leader. He lags David Cameron by two to one (17-35%) when people are asked which party leader they trust most on the economy. A mere 9% think he is strong. By 60-20% people say he is not up to the job of Prime Minister.

Even Labour supporters remain unconvinced. Only half of them think is doing well, trust him on the economy or think he is up to being Prime Minister. In contrast, fully 90% of Conservatives think highly of Cameron.

How, then, should Miliband respond to his Scottish dilemma and his poor personal ratings? His best course would be to treat his post-referendum problems not as ones of tactical party calculation but ones of great long-term significance for the whole of the United Kingdom. If that means sacrificing Labour short-term party interest in order to achieve a lasting constitutional settlement, so be it. He might be surprised how much respect he earns.

At this week’s conference, and especially in his speech on Tuesday, Miliband needs to persuade voters in both north and south of the border that he can rise to the scale of the challenges he faces. He has his best opportunity since he became leader four years ago to rise above the daily political grind and show that he is a principled national leader.

This analysis was first published in the Sunday Times

YouGov's Kellner predicts re-election of Green MP

A respected polling expert has put Caroline Lucas, the UK’s first Green MP, on course to hold her Brighton parliamentary seat after a summer of encouraging poll indicators. Peter Kellner, President of the YouGov polling company, has singled out Ms Lucas as the exception to his national predictions of rising support for Labour, saying she is likely to hold her Brighton Pavilion seat in his forecast for the general election, outlined in the September edition of current affairs magazine Prospect.

Gazing into his psephological crystal ball, the former BBC Newsnight political analyst says Ms Lucas will successfully defend her slim 1,252 majority in Brighton over Labour, while he predicts a Labour Government with an overall majority of 30 seats.

Adam McGibbon, national Green Party General Election Campaign Manager said, “No one is taking anything for granted in our corner; it will be a tough contest and things can change but to have a respected pollster like Peter Kellner predict that Caroline will successfully defend her seat is encouraging and confirms the positive feel we are getting on door steps.

“We’ve seen how polls have gradually been turning in our favour after lower ratings last year with several months of growing support as well as in the euro election - which put us ahead of all the other parties in the constituency - and this may be informing Kellner’s thinking. While no one piece of research is conclusive of this trend on its own, taken together we are seeing real momentum building for Caroline. This is also reflected in the bookies’ current odds which put her in pole position.

“It also suggests that Caroline is picking up support well beyond her own political party and attracting people locally to her cause who are not traditionally Green voters or who may not usually vote at all. Caroline is well-known for keeping a vigilant eye on local people’s behalf and turning the heat on the big Westminster parties so she seems to be gaining credit for getting the concerns of these voters noticed and taken seriously in Westminster.”

McGibbon added, “In July a constituency poll by Tory strategist Lord Ashcroft put us neck and neck with Labour in Brighton Pavilion. The questioning format in this poll favoured Labour as voters were reminded of the Labour option but importantly not the Green option so, if anything, this would have underestimated support for Caroline. We are also quietly pleased by the European results which through careful scrutinising of ballot papers indicated Greens were ahead by more than five percentage points in Brighton Pavilion as reported by the Brighton and Hove Independent newspaper.”

However McGibbon sounded a note of caution on the quality of polling and market research data that might emerge ahead of the election likely on 7th May and urged voters to be on their guard, “While we do our best to rely on robust, scientifically backed polling for our analysis, unfortunately we expect some to be less scrupulous about the accuracy and robustness of surveys they commission or promote.

“There are likely to be some unreliable straw polls and ‘voodoo poll’ claims made that are not safe to use as they would not be professionally undertaken to British Polling Council standards. Our message to people interested in polling trends is to check whether a poll is conducted by a reputable polling company rather than believe the first thing they hear in the news.”

Poll shows a majority of Scots want to stay in the UK

A YouGov survey for Progressive Partnership, published in today’s Sunday Mail, show that, 54% of Scots backed remaining in the UK compared to just 34% supporting separation. When undecided voters were removed, 61% of Scots support Scotland’s place in the UK with only 39% in favour of break-up. The new poll shows a 6 point swing in favour of the campaign for Scotland to stay in the UK, compared to the most recent previous poll by YouGov for Channel Four News.

Better Together said that as more Scots start to think seriously about the implications of separation the more people are rejecting Alex Salmond’s negative and divisive campaign.

Better Together leader and former Chancellor Alistair Darling said: "I am not complacent but I am not surprised by this poll. People are looking more closely at the consequences of separation - for their families, their jobs and the future of their children. I passionately believe that Scotland - my country and its people - are better off staying in the UK. We can have the best of both worlds, with a strong Scottish Parliament with more powers, backed up by the strength, security and stability of being a partner in something bigger - the UK"

Concluding Mr Darling commented: "Separation risks our future. For what? Alex Salmond refuses to tell us what would replace the Pound, and can't tell us how pensions would be paid. It is realistic, not scaremongering, to expect answers to hard-headed questions of those who want to break up the UK."

You Gov poll has mixed results for the main parties

In the latest YouGov poll it shows that Labour have a nine point lead overall and that the Labour party are more trusted on health, education, taxation and unemployment and the Tories lead on asylum and immigration, law & order and have a small lead on the economy in general. The two parties are tied on the issue of Europe. Although on the main poll the smaller parties are included when it comes to the separate issues YouGov only asked about the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Voting intention:
Conservative Party 31%
Labour Party 40%
Liberal Democrat Party 10%
United Kingdom Independence Party 13%
Green Party 2%
Scottish National Party/Plaid Cymru 3%
British National Party 0%
Respect 0%
Other 1%

The government approval rating is -37

On to the issues:
"The National Health Service":
Conservatives 21%
Labour 35% 
Liberal Democrat 7%
Other 6%
None 12%
Don't Know 19%

"Dealing with asylum & immigration" 
Conservatives 28%
Labour 18%
Liberal Democrats 6%
Other 16%
None 14%
Don't Know 18%

"Law & Order"
Conservatives 31%
Labour 23%
Liberal Democrats 5%
Other 8%
None 11%
Don't Know 12%

"Education and Schools"
Conservatives 23%
Labour 32%
Liberal Democrats 8%
Other 6%
None 11%
Don't Know 19%

"taxation policy"
Conservatives 25%
Labour 28% 
Liberal Democrats 7%
Other 8% 
None 12%
Don't Know 20%

"Dealing with unemployment"
Conservatives 24%
Labour 30%
Liberal Democrats 5%
Other 7%
None 13%
Don't Know 21%

"The economy in general"
Conservatives 27%
Labour 25%
Liberal Democrats 4%
Other 7%
None 14%
Don't Know 23%

"The issue of Europe"
Conservatives 21%
Labour 21%
Liberal Democrats 8%
Other 15%
None 14%
Don't Know 21%

Public support for same sex marriage but the Tories are split down the middle over it

In a poll released by YouGov shows that 54% of the public support the legislation to legalise "gay marriage" to 37% who oppose it, 9% said they didn't know or registered no opinion. However when the question is put by party voters the Conservatives are pretty much split over it. With 45% supporting the Prime Minister's stance, 48% opposing it and 6% saying they didn't know. 

When Labour voters were asked the majority of their voters are in favour with 57% saying they support it, 31% saying they oppose it with 12% saying they didn't know. Not surprisingly people who say they're Liberal Democrat voters are most in favour with 72% saying they support it, 24% saying they oppose it and 5% saying they didn't know. The party whos voters are most opposed is the United Kingdom Independence Party with only 38% saying they're in support 53% saying they oppose it and 9% saying they don't know. 

As the bill returns to the Commons today YouGov also asked "David Cameron has pledged to fully legalise gay marriage. Do you think this is because...he genuinely believes its the right thing to do" which 25% agree with that statement or "he doesn't believe it is right, but is doing it for political reasons" which 59% agreed with, 16% said they didn't know. Like the first question it was also asked by party voters for Conservative voters 42% think he is doing it as he genuinely believes in it 41% think he doesn't believe in it 17% said they don't know.

The other parties voters don't believe that David Cameron genuinely believes in it. Labour voters think 19% think he does believe in it 65% think he doesn't and 16% say they don't know. Out of the Liberal Democrat voters are more trusting of the Prime Minister with 37% saying they think Mr Cameron genuinely believes in gay marriage 51% think he doesn't believe in it and 11% say they don't know. UKIP voters really don't trust David Cameron on gay marriage only 15% think he genuinely believes in it, 75% say he doesn't believe in it and 10% say they don't know.

Thatcher tops best PM poll

Margaret Thatcher came top of a YouGov poll asking the question; best Prime Minister since 1945? The result showed that Lady Thatcher was four percent ahead of Sir Winston Churchill. The only other Prime Minister to get into double figures was the Labour Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair. The result is:

Margaret Thatcher 28%
Winston Churchill 24%
Tony Blair 10%
Harold Wilson 6%
Clement Atlee 5%
Gordon Brown 2%
Anthony Eden 1%
Harold MacMillan 1%
Alec Douglas-Home 1%
Jim Callaghan 1%
John Major 1%
Edward Heath 0%
David Cameron 0%

European election poll blow for UKIP

The polling company YouGov have this morning released a poll which shows for the European elections the United Kingdom Independence Party isn't on course "to win the European elections" which many commentators and some members of their party have been forecasting. 

The Eurosceptic party is currently in third place only five points ahead of the Liberal Democrats, ten points behind the Conservatives and twenty one points behind Ed Miliband's Labour party. The poll is below, the plus and minus figures are the changes from the last European elections in two thousand and nine:

Labour Party 38% (+22.3)
Conservative Party 27% (-0.7)
United Kingdom Independence Party 17% (+0.5)
Liberal Democrat Party 12% (-1.7)
Green Party 3% (-5.1)
Scottish National Party/Plaid Cymru 2% (-0.9)
Others 1% (-14.4)

The main reason for the others going down so much is the collapse in the British National Party and the English Democrat vote. As things stand both British National Party MEPs Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons will lose their seats in the European Parliament. 

Poll shows its to close to call between Boris & Ken

The latest YouGov poll shows that the gap between Boris and Ken is just two points not only on first but second preferences as well. Mr Johnson leads on first preferences 43/41 and on second preferences 51/49. Now polling companies all use a margin of error of plus or minus two percent so the result could be 53/47 which would be the best result for Boris or it could be 49/51 which would see Ken Livingstone re-elected to City Hall. The first preference poll in full:

Boris Johnson 43% -2
Ken Livingstone 41% +1
Brian Paddick 8% +1
Siobhan Benita 3% +1
Lawrence Webb 3% (n/c)
Jenny Jones 2% (n/c)

Carlos Cortiglia 0% -1

This poll shows now that the Green party candidate, Jenny Jones, should not be taking part in the tv debates. Having been on all of them with the exception of the Skynews debate, Ms Jones has been given equal coverage with Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone and Brian Paddick. However her poll rating is flat lining on just two percent.

Lawrence Webb the UKIP candidate is holding onto his three percent in the polls but unlike Jenny Jones he's been excluded from the debates he remains one percent ahead of her. The BNP's Carlos Cortiglia has crashed to zero, now the BNP will get votes but not enough to be classed as one percent. The Independent candidate Siobhan Benita continues to fight against the odds and continuing to rise in the polls. Coming from nowhere to, joint, fourth place in the polls is a stunning result for Mrs Benita. 

Speaking to the Politico Daily Mrs Benita said: "Delighted the latest poll now puts me ahead of the Greens and level with UKIP. That's been achieved with limited tv coverage, no party machine and very little funding. The public have a right to hear my policies on education, youth, housing, the police and the economy. Many voters still don't even know I exist. This just demonstrates how badly wrong the broadcasters have got this election and how the rules on election coverage must now be changed".

Poll shows debate broadcasting rules are unfair

The latest YouGov poll on the contest for the London mayoralty show that Labour's Ken Livingstone has closed the gap on Conservative Boris Johnson on first preferences from eight points to five. More heartening for Boris is that with the second preferences he leads 53/47 against Ken. Although on first preferences both main candidates are actually down on last month:

Boris Johnson 45% -4
Ken Livingstone 40% -1
Brian Paddick 7% +2
Lawrence Webb 3% +2
Siobhan Benita 2% +2
Jenny Jones 2% +1%
Carlos Cortiglia 1% +1
Don't Know 9% -4
Wont vote 1% -7

The main story from this poll is that Jenny Jones, the Green party candidate, should be doing a lot better considering she has been getting equal coverage with Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone & Brian Paddick being on the platform for all of the debates: LBC, Newsnight, the Standard, Stonewall to name a few and she will be on the BBC and ITV London ones as well despite polling lower than the UKIP candidate Lawrence Webb - who wont be on the platform and polling equally with independent Siobhan Benita who also wont be on the platform.

Although Ms Jones hasn't been invited onto the main Skynews debate with Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone & Brian Paddick on Thursday 19th April. I assume like Siobhan Benita & Lawrence Webb she will be on the "post debate discussion". so while the smaller party candidates are on the air the spin room will go into overdrive, meaning the majority of the media will be ignoring the "post debate discussion". Just as the "post debate discussion" on LBC was practically ignored although the reports from the lift on that day didn't help!

The BNP campaign refuse to speak to bloggers and freelance journalists so I can't confirm whether Mr Cortiglia will be at the Skynews post debate discussion or not.

Responding to the YouGov poll Mrs Benita said: “I am getting this level of support with a virtual broadcast black out and no party behind me. I demand at the very least equal exposure with Jenny Jones on the upcoming ITV and BBC TV debates. The mayoral election is about an individual. Broadcasting rules based on parties and previous elections are skewing coverage and discriminating against a serious independent candidate like me. The rules are not fit for purpose and the broadcasters need to exercise their editorial judgement and take account of political circumstances to stop coverage of this mayoral election becoming a farce. Voters have the right to know who they are voting for”.

Jenny Jones tweeted "A poll in Brighton two weeks before election day in 2010.....Put Caroline Lucas 4th. She won of course. Green votes come out late??"

Whether that is the case or not. It is now time for either Siobhan Benita and Lawrence Webb to be added to the hustings or Jenny Jones be removed from them. Skynews have not invited Ms Jones and both the BBC & ITV should rescind their invitations as it can't not be fair in anybodies eyes for one candidate to be allowed into a debate but with other candidates with either higher or equal poll ratings being excluded till the after show.