Tories set to be ‘all but wiped out’ in London

The Conservatives are set to be “all but wiped out” in London at the general election on Thursday, polling suggests.

Savanta’s final survey of Londoners showed Labour 30 points ahead of the Tories, with 49 per cent of those in the capital intending to back Labour.

While Sir Keir Starmer’s party is down six percentage points from the previous week, it remains comfortably ahead of the Conservatives, who are on 19 per cent – down three points.

Reform UK has risen to 11 per cent, up three percentage points, while the Liberal Democrats are on 10 per cent, the Greens six per cent and other parties and candidates five per cent.

The Tories currently have 20 seats in the capital, but the poll suggests this will plummet in line with expectations that voters will turn their backs on the party nationwide.

At the 2019 general election only four seats changed hands, with the Tories gaining two and losing two, while Labour and the Liberal Democrats gained one and lost one.

Chris Hopkins, Savanta’s political research director, said: “Our research suggests that the Conservatives could be all but wiped out from London this week if our results are replicated on election day.

“Their party is deeply unpopular in the capital, leaking votes to Reform UK and facing threats from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

“Labour is seen by Londoners as most trusted on every policy issue important to them, from housing to the cost of living. That ultimately will be likely what drives Londoners on polling day, with our research also suggesting they’re looking forward to a London Mayor and a national government working together.”

In May, Susan Hall outperformed the Tory party nationally in the London mayoral race but still slumped to defeat as Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor, secured a historic third term.

Electoral casualties in the capital could include Greg Hands, a former Conservative Party chairman, Julia Lopez, the data minister, and Theresa Villiers.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith received a boost towards the start of the campaign in his ultra-marginal constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green, where Faiza Shaheen, the former Labour candidate, is running against her old party as an independent following a row over her reportedly liking controversial social media posts about anti-Semitism.

Ms Shaheen has said she reached her decision to stand against her former party following “hundreds of messages from people in my community” who are “tired of the Tories but now feel they can’t trust Labour”.

She previously insisted she did not remember liking one of the social media posts that led to her being blocked. The post alleged that anyone critical of Israel is “assailed” by “professional organisations” who inflict “non-stop harassment” and “accuse you of anti-Semitism”.