Poll puts Labour ahead

An ICM poll in the Guardian shows Labour on 37% and the Tories on 34%. Given the +/-3% accuracy often quoted for such polls this is in line with many recent ones showing the two parties more-or-less equal. This latest one tends to reinforce the view that issues which greatly excite political journalists and some bloggers have little impact on real voters.

The local elections in May may provide a more accurate guide but so few people vote in them and local issues really do sometimes have an influence that we'll have to be patient and wait at least three years for another general election. But, in today's 'news' hungry world where journalists compete to bring us the 'news' before it happens rather than after, speculation will continue apace......