The survey from BPIX for the Mail on Sunday said support for the Liberal Democrats, usually the third force in British politics, had soared 12 points to 32 per cent, with the main opposition Conservatives down 7 points on 31 per cent and ruling Labour Party down 3 points on 28 per cent.
Britain has not had a hung parliament since 1974 and the pound weakened on Friday over fears a coalition or minority government would struggle to tackle Britain’s huge budget deficit approaching 12 per cent of gross domestic product.
If the latest poll results were repeated nationally, the quirks of Britain’s electoral system mean Labour would emerge as the largest party in parliament, according to a Sky News seat predictor, and could remain in power if the Liberal Democrats offered their support.
The poll boost followed Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg’s well-received appearance in a live television debate on Thursday. Viewers and commentators judged the 43-year-old to have performed better than Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron.
The BPIX poll is the most favourable yet for the Lib Dems among surveys conducted since the debate.
Polls by YouGov on Friday and ComRes yesterday both gave the Liberal Democrats an 8 point surge, putting the party second behind the Conservatives but ahead of Labour.
