Labour slip in local election polls after anti-Semitism scandal – but they’re still set to smash Tories in London
The party is on course to take one of the Tories' flagship London councils but fall short in two more
LABOUR have slipped by thee per cent in the local election polls but are still on course to smash the Tories in London with their best result for four decades.
The fall in Labour’s poll rating comes after the party was hit by a scandal over Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to punish anti-Semitic activists.
The party still holds a 22-point lead over the Conservatives in the capital ahead of the local elections taking place a week today.
That would be enough to take at least one council off the Tories - but would mean Labour falling short of their ambition to nab two more flagship local authorities from Theresa May.
Today’s poll, carried out by Queen Mary University of London, puts Labour on 51 per cent with the Tories trailing with 29 per cent.
The Lib Dems have 11 per cent, the Greens four per cent and Ukip just two per cent.
In the last London poll released earlier this year, Labour’s lead stood at 26 points, but they have since lost three per cent of their support.
The party has been embroiled in crisis after Mr Corbyn was accused of not being tough on bigoted activists who have spread anti-Semitic slurs.
If today’s survey proves to be accurate, Labour’s performance in London will be the best of any party for nearly half a century.
Mr Corbyn’s party is expected to win Barnet, which has been held by the Tories since the borough was created in the 1960s.
But they are forecast to be runner-up in both Westminster and Wandsworth, two Tory-run councils where Labour have been campaigning hard in recent weeks.
Professor Philip Cowley, who helped carry out the research, said today: “Despite the small increase in support for the Conservatives, the Labour party is predicted to do better than any political party has managed in London for over 40 years.
“The small decline in support for Labour should mean that both Westminster and Wandsworth will be held by the Conservatives.
“Should the Conservatives manage to hold these seats, it will not be a sign of success, merely the avoidance of utter disaster.”
As well as London, dozens of other mostly urban councils will be holding elections next Thursday.
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