HomeNewsNational News

Tories ahead in by-election poll

Labour could be heading for defeat in a crucial by-election in 10 days' time, according to an opinion poll.

The ICM survey for the Mail on Sunday - carried out in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency - puts the Tories on 43%, four points ahead of Labour on 39%, with the Liberal Democrats trailing on 16%.

According to the newspaper, the figures represent a 10% swing since the last General Election and would turn Labour's 7,078 majority into a Conservative majority of well over 1,000.

Worryingly for Labour, the party would fare even worse in a General Election with 49% saying that they would vote Tory in a national poll, as against 33% for Labour and 15% for the Lib Dems.

ICM interviewed 1,004 people by telephone in Crewe on May 7 and 8.

Read more National news stories

Warning as species drop by third

Populations of animal, bird and fish species have dropped by almost a third since 1970, conservationists have warned. Read

Court to rule on MPs' expenses

The High Court will rule on the House of Commons' bid to overturn an information watchdog's decision to force disclosure of MPs' expenses. Read