Tories gain their first opinion poll lead for two years

The Conservative Party has overtaken Labour in a national opinion poll for the first time in more than two years.

David Cameron’s party had 34 per cent of the vote, two points ahead of Labour on 32 per cent, according to the survey published by Lord Ashcroft, the former deputy chairman of the Conservatives. (Pictured right)

The poll put the UK Independence Party in third place on 15 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats trailing in fourth on 9 per cent. The figures were welcomed by Downing Street as a sign that the economic recovery is starting to lift the Tory party’s fortunes.

But 34 per cent of the vote would not be enough to give the Tory party an overall majority in the Commons, raising the prospect of another hung Parliament after the general election next May. Senior Tories insist the poll is a sign of growing “momentum” that could carry Mr Cameron to victory in the election.

The last time the Conservatives had a poll lead over Labour was in March 2012, a matter of weeks before George Osborne’s “omnishambles” budget, which led to a series of embarrassing U-turns that undermined the Coalition.

Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, has seen his advantage slip from a 16 per cent poll lead to the low single figures in recent months as the economy continues to recover.

a sign of growing “momentum” that could carry Mr Cameron to victory

What planet is he on? Cameron is toast!

The Guardian also puts the Tories in the lead...

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/12/support-labour-drops-tories-lead-guardian-icm-poll

Support for Labour drops six points as Tories take lead in latest ICM poll

Labour's support is draining away, according to a Guardian/ICM poll which records the first Conservative lead in over two years and gives Ed Miliband's party its smallest share of the vote for four years.

The Tories are on 33% in the monthly state of the parties poll, up a single point and two points ahead of Labour, which has sunk by six points since April. The poll will add to Labour nerves a week and a half before European and local elections, and less than a year before the general election.

There's traditionally a swing back to government support as a general election approaches.