Voters more likely to back Labour if Jeremy Corbyn is leader, poll suggests

Jeremy Corbyn campaigning in Edinburgh on Friday Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Jeremy Corbyn is the highest rated of Labour's leadership contenders among the wider electorate at large, a new poll has suggested.

A survey of 1,000 people by Survation found 32% of people would be more likely to vote Labour at the election if Mr Corbyn ran the party, ahead of Andy Burnham on 25%, Liz Kendall on 22% and Yvette Cooper on 20%.

Ballots for the Labour leadership contest were sent out on Friday.

The left-wing MP also scored higher than other candidates when asked which one would be the best at holding the government to account as the leader of the opposition.

45% said Corbyn becoming leader would make no difference either way to the way they voted, while 19% said it would make them less likely to vote Labour.

Andy Burnham is slightly ahead among all voters when asked who would make the best Prime Minister, the poll suggests. Credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Andy Burnham, the pre-race favourite, was ahead - by 25% to 24% - among all voters when asked who would make the best Prime Minister. The pair tied on 26% when voters were asked who would be most likely to secure General Election victory.

On Wednesday, former Prime Minster Tony Blair said Labour faces "annihilation" if Jeremy Corbyn is elected as leader.