THE Green Party have pushed the Liberal Democrats into fifth place according to a survey for this month’s European elections, reports The Sunday Times (1) on its front page today.
A YouGov poll for The Sunday Times finds 8% support for the Greens in the Euro elections, one point ahead of the Lib Dems. The newspaper says the new figures “reveal” the Lib Dems' “status as a national party is in danger of collapse.”
The polling results echo those released on May 2 by The Green Party. That polling, which was conducted by YouGov and commissioned by the Greens, also had the Green Party on 8% and ahead of the Lib Dems in four of the nine English regions (the North-East, the North-West, Yorks and Humber and Eastern Region) with both parties polling on 11% in London.
A Green Party spokesman said:
"It's not unusual for the Greens to see a boost like this before in the weeks closest to an election. While the media has been focussing on UKIP our members have been speaking to thousands of voters and delivering our literature to houses up and down the country.
“This poll alone doesn't mean we'll beat the Lib Dems, but it's the latest in a series which will, no doubt, strike fear into Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg's heart. If, as we expect, we beat the Lib Dems into fifth then surely Clegg's position as party leader will be called into question."
Support for the Lib Dems has fallen to such a degree it is having problems finding enough candidates to stand in council elections (which also take place on May 22) reports The Sunday Times. Meanwhile, the Greens are standing candidates in more wards than ever before in London.
1) http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/article1407116.ece