Only big tactical vote can keep key seats from Tories, say polls

Conservatives are heading for wins in three of the most hotly contested London battlegrounds unless there is large-scale tactical voting by anti-Brexit voters, polls reveal today.

The Deltapoll surveys suggest that Liberal Democrat candidate Luciana Berger has closed the gap in Finchley & Golders Green and would need two-thirds of local Labour supporters to back her in order to beat Tory Mike Freer.

Chuka Umunna has slipped five points in Cities of London & Westminster but is still in with a chance if Labour voters back him.

In Kensington, Lib Dem candidate Sam Gyimah has fallen to third place behind Labour’s Emma Dent Coad and his supporters are likely to be pressed to vote for her to beat Tory frontrunner Felicity Buchan.

Crucially, the polls suggest that only the Lib Dem candidates could realistically win if there is substantial tactical voting.

The key figures with the change from similar polls two weeks ago are: Finchley & Golders Green: Tory Mr Freer, 46 per cent (no change); Lib Dem Ms Berger, 34 (+2); Labour’s Ross Houston, 19 (no change).

When asked how they would vote if the only candidates with a realistic chance were Tory and Lib Dem, voters’ responses would see Ms Berger win by 54 per cent to 43.

Asked how they would vote in a Con-Lab contest, Mr Freer won by 56 per cent to 39.

Cities of London & Westminster: Conservative Nickie Aiken, 44 per cent (+5); Lib Dem Mr Umunna, 28 (-5); Labour’s Gordon Nardell 26 (no change).

If people felt only the Lib Dems or Tories could win, Mr Umunna could pull ahead by 51 per cent to 44.

Meanwhile, internal Lib Dem figures for Wimbledon suggest the Tories could be on 39 per cent, Lib Dems 37 per cent and Labour 19 per cent.