Tory hopes that Sadiq Khan’s re-election campaign is faltering suffered a blow today as a poll showed him gaining ground again.
YouGov research put the Labour incumbent a massive 22 points ahead of Conservative rival Susan Hall.
That is up from the 19 point advantage the firm detected earlier in the month. Worryingly for Ms Hall, some 44 per cent had no opinion of her at all – suggesting that she is failing to cut through to voters.
The figures come with less than two days to go until the crucial round of local and mayoral elections.
Rishi Sunak has been hoping that the mayoral contests could help take the focus off what is feared to be a grim set of council results.
YouGov research put Sadiq Khan a massive 22 points ahead of Conservative rival Susan Hall
Tory hopes that Sadiq Khan’s (right) re-election campaign is faltering suffered a blow today as a poll showed him gaining ground on Susan Hall (left) again
But the latest poll, conducted between April 24 and 30, found Mr Khan was on 47 per cent and Ms Hall just 25 per cent. That reversed a slight narrowing seen at the beginning of the month.
A separate Savanta survey last week suggested the battle might be tighter, but still had the gap at 13 points.
Ms Hall has been slating Mr Khan over his record on crime and policing, telling him during debates that Londoners ‘don’t feel safe’ and ‘nobody believes you any more’.
She has also taken him to task over his expansion of the ULEZ zone, saying he is punishing struggling workers.
For his part Mr Khan has branded Ms Hall the ‘most dangerous candidate I have fought against’ and accused her of portraying the capital as something out of gritty Baltimore crime drama The Wire.
The contest on May 2 is being conducted under the first past the post system for the first time, meaning Mr Khan cannot rely on second preferences from other parties.
There was better news from YouGov on two of the other mayoral races.
Ben Houchen looks to be seven points ahead as he tries to win a third term in Tees Valley.
Meanwhile, Andy Street has a slender advantage over Labour rival Richard Parker as he bids to stay in office in the West Midlands.
YouGov found Ben Houchen seven points ahead as he tries to win a third term in Tees Valley
