Politics

Conservatives retain marginal lead over Labour in the polls

Labour Party leader Ed Miliband with parliamentary candidate for North Warwickshire and Bedworth Mike O'Brien as Justine Thornton wife of the Labour Party leader looks on during a visit to the Mayor's Cafe in Bedworth, Warwickshire PICTURE: Chris Radburn/PA
Labour Party leader Ed Miliband with parliamentary candidate for North Warwickshire and Bedworth Mike O'Brien as Justine Thornton wife of the Labour Party leader looks on during a visit to the Mayor's Cafe in Bedworth, Warwickshire PICTURE: Chris Labour Party leader Ed Miliband with parliamentary candidate for North Warwickshire and Bedworth Mike O'Brien as Justine Thornton wife of the Labour Party leader looks on during a visit to the Mayor's Cafe in Bedworth, Warwickshire PICTURE: Chris Radburn/PA

THE Conservatives have retained their lead, but it is down by four points, as the parties enter the final days of campaigning, according to the latest polling by Lord Ashcroft.

The final Ashcroft National Poll puts the Tories on 32 per cent with Labour unchanged on 30 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are up two points on 11 per cent, UKIP up one on 12 per cent, the Greens are unchanged at 7 per cent and the SNP up one on 5 per cent.

A Survation poll for The Mirror also showed the deadlock continuing into the final hours of the campaign.

It put Labour on 34 per cent and the Conservatives 33 per cent – both unchanged.

There was no movement either for Ukip (16 per cent) or the Liberal Democrats (9 per cent) with the Greens up one on 4 per cent.

Meanwhile, Ukip has suspended a General Election candidate for "abhorrent" abuse about a rival – including racial slurs and a threat to shoot him should be ever become prime minister.

The Mirror published a video of Robert Blay speaking to its investigators about Tory opponent Ranil Jayawardena at a public meeting on Saturday in Ramsgate addressed by party leader Nigel Farage.

Ex-Conservative Mr Blay – who is standing for election in North East Hampshire – noted that Mr Jayawardena had been tipped as Britain's first Asian prime minister.

The Mirror reported that he went on: "If he is I will personally put a bullet between his eyes. I won't have this f***** as our prime minister. I absolutely loathe him."