Tory attacks over extremist links and the anti-semitism row fail to dent Sadiq Khan’s mayoral campaign
Tory attacks over extremist links and the Labour anti-semitism row have failed to dent Sadiq Khan’s campaign to be London mayor, a new opinion poll today suggested.
The ComRes survey for ITV News and LBC showed the Labour candidate increasing his overall lead over Conservative rival Zac Goldsmith.
But the poll also concludes the Tories could triumph over Labour with current mayor Boris Johnson as candidate instead of Goldsmith.
The poll put Khan on course to take control of City Hall by 56% to Goldsmith’s 44% after second preference votes are counted.
The Tooting MP and former lawyer sees his poll lead increase by two percentage points since a similar survey in April.
Khan also increased his first round lead over Goldsmith - but not by enough to win outright without a second round run-off.
The election is likely to be decided by the distribution of second preference votes if no candidate achieves more than 50% in the first round.
The online poll of 1.034 Londoners gives Khan 45% of the first round vote, Goldsmith 36%, Caroline Pidgeon (Lib Dem) and Sian Berry (Green) tied on 6%, Peter Whittle (UKIP) 4% and George Galloway (Respect) on 1%.
The results are a further blow to Conservative strategists under fire for running a divisive and negative campaign.