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Jan 2024

News

YouGov poll predicts Lib Dem victory in Harrogate and Knaresborough

Published: 15 Jan 2024, 15:52 GMT

by John Plummer

The Liberal Democrats are on course to gain Harrogate and Knaresborough from the Conservatives, according to the latest YouGov / MRP poll.

The survey of 14,000 people, published in the Telegraph yesterday, reveals that nationally 45% intend to vote Labour, compared with 22% for the Conservatives, 10% for Reform UK, 9% for the Liberal Democrats and 8% for the Greens. A general election has to be held within the next 12 months and if the results in the survey were repeated, Labour would win a landslide majority of 120.

When broken down into individual constituencies, the survey shows the Lib Dems would narrowly take Harrogate and Knaresborough. The seat has been held by the Conservative Andrew Jones since 2010. Mr Jones is bidding to make it five wins in a row.

But there is better news for the Tories elsewhere locally, with Julian Smith forecast to retain Skipton and Ripon and the party on course to win the new Wetherby and Easingwold constituency, which includes places such as Boroughbridge, Ouseburn, Spofforth, Huby and Kirk Deighton.

A searchable tool reveals the forecast charts for each constituency but the precise figures don't appear to be available. Here are the local charts:

'Two-horse race'

Tom Gordon, the Lib Dem candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:

“Polls are consistently showing that Harrogate and Knaresborough is a two-horse race between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives, locally people know that if they want change then they should vote Liberal Democrat.

“In the last 12 months we have spoken to thousands of people on the doorstep, and people are telling us they are sick and tired of feeling taken for granted, fed up of crumbling public services, and want to see an end to the Conservative sewage scandal.

"After 13 years people want change, and that is reflected in our doorstep conversations, in the latest polls, and how people tell us they intend to vote in the upcoming general election.”

Mr Jones said:

“I haven’t read the Telegraph report in detail but I do know that other sites such as Electoral Calculus tell a different story and give the rationale and workings behind their prediction.

“Fixating on the polls though isn’t my priority; I am happy to wait for the result of the election itself. I’ve never taken people’s votes for granted – people’s support needs to be earned.

"Up until then, and if the public choose beyond, I will continue speaking out for our area, getting things done locally and helping people with their problems. Doing that is an MPs job. Poring over the details of this poll or that poll I leave to others.”

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YouGov poll predicts Lib Dem victory in Harrogate and Knaresborough

'Two-horse race'

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