"...the first time a major poll has placed Labour 3rd behind the Lib Dems since 1982."That's not true. It's merely the first time Ipsos/MORI has put Labour in 3rd place since Ipsos and MORI merged - which was only a few years ago. Just about every major polling company put Labour in 3rd place in the weeks immediately following the Liberal victory in the Bermondsey by-election of 1983 (and, again, after the SDP's victory in the Greenwich by-election of 1987).In fact, one major polling company put Labour in third place only a few months ago.The latest Ipsos/MORI poll you quote was taken in the immediate aftermath of the Lib Dem conference. The latest two YouGuv daily polls, both conducted during the early part of the Labour conference, show that Labour has risen to nearly 30% (and has cut the Tory lead to around ten points). However this, too, will be short-lived, as by this time next week the Tories will be benefitting from the temporary boost which their own conference gives them.My guess is that when the conference season has died down, we'll be back to Con 40%; Lab 25%; Lib Dems 20% - which is pretty much what it's been since the spring.From my point of view, we'll just have to see if an improving economy plus a General Election campaign can improve Labour's ratings. We won't ever give up.
Robin Taylor ● 6084d