Sir Keir Starmer on a campaign visit to Lancashire on Friday afternoon Credit: Labour Party Labour’s lead has fallen by three points in the first YouGov poll since Rishi Sunak called the 2024 general election.
The survey, conducted on Thursday and Friday, shows the Conservatives up by one point to 22 per cent, while Labour is down two to 44 per cent.
The poll would still give Sir Keir Starmer a significant majority if translated to the election but it suggests that, as with previous national votes, the gap between the two major parties is likely to narrow between now and polling day.
Meanwhile Richard Tice’s Reform party closed the gap on the Tories to eight per cent as it rose to 14 per cent.
The Liberal Democrats are on nine points, the Green Party on six and the SNP on three.
Follow the latest updates below
Live Reporting Related Stories 25 May 2024 • 8:16am
8:16AM
Vote Labour, jokes Jeremy Hunt ahead of Lib Dem fight Jeremy Hunt jokingly urged people to vote Labour in his Godalming and Ash where his seat is under threat from the Liberal Democrats.
The Chancellor was reported by the Financial Times to have made the remarks at a charity Lancaster House event in honour of Chris Martin, the late civil servant.
Quipping he endorsed tactical voting in his own backyard, Mr Hunt said: “Vote Labour in Godalming and Ash where I’m dealing with those b——-s, the Liberal Democrats.”
Jeremy Hunt in Compton, Surrey as he fights to keep the Liberal Democrats out Credit: Geoff Pugh Sir Ed Davey’s party is hoping to achieve a ‘Portillo moment’ by unseating Mr Hunt in the newly-created constituency.
In South West Surrey, Mr Hunt won a majority of just under 9,000, or 15 per cent, at the last general election.
8:13AM
Bellwether seat dispatch: ‘Labour can win ‘true blue’ Basingstoke for the first time’ Each week, the Telegraph will be taking the temperature in key constituencies around the country whose result could point the way for how the country will vote in July’s election. This week, Guy Kelly reports from Basingstoke:
It’s unlikely there’s anybody around who remembers it, but the general election of 1923 was a historic one for Basingstoke. It was the only time since the creation of the constituency, in 1885, that voters elected anybody other than a Conservative MP.
Reginald Fletcher, 1st Baron Winster, the Liberal victor in that contest 101 years ago, was the exception that proves the rule in these parts. Other than on that occasion, this slice of north-east Hampshire has been as “true blue” as they come.
But could this be about to change? This July, how Basingstoke votes will suddenly be of national importance as it is being touted as an early predictor of how the country will vote.
Dispatch: The mood on the streets is one of change
8:08AM
Inheritance tax against Tory values, says Hunt Jeremy Hunt has said that inheritance tax is unfair as he vowed to support the middle classes with tax breaks.
In an interview with The Telegraph, the Chancellor described death duties as “profoundly anti-Conservative”, adding that the Tories would end taxes that discourage people from earning more money.
Mr Hunt vowed to build on two cuts to National Insurance and said: “We made a start, and we will go further.”
Jeremy Hunt heading to his constituency to start canvassing ahead of the general election Credit: Geoff Pugh In his first interview since Rishi Sunak called the snap poll on July 4, Mr Hunt said the Tory manifesto would focus primarily on tax cuts that boost growth, reducing “taxes on work” and those that “disincentivise saving”.
The Chancellor’s promise of support for the middle classes came as private schools warned that parents were pulling children out ahead of Labour’s pledge to add VAT to the fees.
Szu Ping Chan and Madeleine Ross have the story
8:03AM
Almost three in five voters ‘10/10 certain to vote’ Almost three in five voters said they were “absolutely certain to vote” in the first YouGov poll since the election was announced.
Sixty-six per cent of those aged 65 and over are certain to vote, as are 62 per cent of those aged 50 to 64 and 54 per cent of people aged 25 to 49.
The number of 18-to-24-year-olds saying they were certain to vote is up by 17 percentage points to 52 per cent.
% saying they are “10/10 – absolutely certain to vote” in our first poll since the election was announced (23-24 May)
All Britons: 58% (+5 from 21-22 May)
18-24yr olds: 52% (+17)
25-49yr olds: 54% (+3)
50-64yr olds: 62% (+5)
65+yr olds: 66% (+7)https://t.co/DlJLmUd7e0 pic.twitter.com/2Y0V8MEhKb
— YouGov (@YouGov) May 25, 2024 7:59AM
Good morning Dominic Penna here, The Telegraph’s Political Correspondent, guiding you through the first Saturday of the general election campaign.
Labour’s lead is down by three points in the first YouGov poll since Rishi Sunak called the snap summer poll for July 4.
The survey, conducted on Thursday and Friday, shows the Conservatives up by one point to 22 per cent, while Labour is down two to 44 per cent.
It comes after a dramatic day yesterday in which Tory ‘big beasts’ including Michael Gove, Sir John Redwood and Dame Andrea Leadsom confirmed they will stand not seek re-election, taking the number of Conservative MPs quitting the Commons to a historic high.
License this content