Greens polling neck-and-neck with Lib Dems, the Coalition partners
Hot on the heels of the Green Party’s strong showing at both the Local and European Elections on May 22, the Greens are polling at some of the highest levels ever ahead of the 2015 General Election.
Responding to the question “If there was a general election tomorrow, which party would you vote for?” in Lord Ashcroft’s latest polling, 5% indicated they would vote Green. Of those polled who indicated they definitely intend to vote the Green vote rises to 7%. The Green Party received 0.9% of the vote overall at the last General Election, at which it stood candidates in 310 seats (from 650).
The Greens elected an additional MEP the May 22 European Elections and now have treble the number of the Liberal Democrats. The Green Party also were clearly ahead of the Liberal Democrats in the total vote – 1.2million voted for a Green MEP on May 22 compared to the Liberal Democrats’ 1.09million. The Greens gained 23 additional councillors at the Local Elections and are now the official opposition in Liverpool, Norwich, Solihull and the London boroughs of Lewisham and Islington.
Natalie Bennett, Green Party leader, said: "The results of this poll reflect what voters around the country are telling me: they are fed up with the 'business-as-usual' approach to our economy of the Tories, Lib Dems and Labour, and horrified by their attempts to 'out-Ukip Ukip', particularly on immigration.
"The Green Party offers a positive alternative, with policies like making the minimum wage a living wage, renationalising the railways and opposing the disastrous proposed EU-US free trade deal that would rebuild our society and economy so that it works for the common good, not just for the good of the few.
"Voters have also clearly seen what just one Green MP, Caroline Lucas, has achieved, and would like to magnify that effect next year."