This is the second poll which places Labour in the lead
(Picture: Getty Images)The Tory party has been dealt another dire election warning following the release of a second poll which shows Labour’s lead growing.
According to a poll by Opinium, commissioned by The Observer, Labour is eight percent ahead of the Tories at 39 per cent in its voting intention tracker according to data compiled between August 18-19.
That is an increase of two per cent in comparison to the poll conducted between August 3-5, while the Tories have fallen three per cent to 31.
When asked who would be the better prime minister out of Liz Truss and Sir Keir Starmer, 31 per cent would now support the Labour leader, in comparison to 23 per cent for Ms Truss. Two weeks ago 29 per cent voted in favour of the Tory leadership contender - 28 voted for Sir Keir.
🚨LATEST @OpiniumResearch /
— Opinium (@OpiniumResearch) August 20, 2022
@ObserverUK poll 🚨
Our latest poll shows Labour's lead rising from to 8 points over the Conservatives, up from 3 points a fortnight ago.
Con 31% (-3)
Lab 39% (+2)
Lib Dem 10% (-2)
Green 7% (+1) pic.twitter.com/CO1luU0dxy
Ms Truss is tipped to beat her rival, Rishi Sunak, to become prime minister but according one former minister said: “We can write off those ‘blue wall’ seats under Liz. Cutting taxes won’t help us win support in the ‘red wall’ either. You can’t cut taxes and level up.”
A former Cabinet colleaged the two leadership candidates, who is back the former Chancellor, added: “If Liz does not change tack and back a real economic package that does more to help those in need, I think we will be in big trouble.
“But to do so she will need to go back on what she has said in the leadership campaign, which will not be without consequences either.”
A seperate poll from YouGov has put the Labour party 15 per cent, its largest lead since February 2013 and is an increase of five per cent on the last poll which was conducted between August 9-10.
Despite the worrying polling, Ms Truss has hinted she may introduce additional support for families this winter.
Speaking to The Sun, however, she resisted any action which would “reach first for the handout” before looking at the root causes of the rising energy bills.
“Now, of course, in the Budget every government has to look at making sure life is affordable for people. But what’s wrong is to reach first for the handout before you’ve addressed the root cause of a problem,” she said.
“I’m very, very aware that it’s not just customers, or consumers, that are facing energy price problems, it’s small businesses.”
Commenting on Opinium’s poll, a Labour spokesperson told the Standard: “Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is relentlessly focused on tackling the cost of living crisis, turbocharging growth and putting more money back into people’s pockets.
“After another weekend of vague and baggy warm words from the Tories, it remains clear that only Labour is offering the practical help that people need, with our fully costed plan to freeze energy bills this winter, lower inflation, and fix energy security for the long term.
“Thanks to Keir’s leadership Labour has the practical answers needed to give Britain the fresh start it so desperately needs, and we are now a government in waiting.”
