Ukip chief predicted to trounce Labour in by-election
UKIP leader Paul Nuttall is on track to easily win the Stoke Central by-election and cause a political earthquake, according to a poll.
The survey shows Ukip has a strong lead in the traditional Labour stronghold with 35 per cent, 10 points ahead of Jeremy Corbyn’s party.
The by-election is set for February 23 after moderate Labour MP Tristram Hunt quit to become director of the V&A.
Stoke Central has always been a safe Labour seat and defeat was once almost unthinkable for the party.
But the new survey, commissioned by Labour Leave, predicts a shock win for Mr Nuttall, who took over from Nigel Farage as Ukip leader in November.
Stoke had one of the strongest Leave results in the referendum with almost 70 per cent of voters backing Brexit.
With support for Mr Corbyn’s hard Left leadership collapsing across the country and confusion over whether Labour backs Brexit or will support Remoaners attempting to block Article 50, voters in the party’s heartlands are understood to be turning to Ukip.
According to the poll 30 per cent of the Stoke Central voters who indicated “Don’t Know” for the upcoming by-election previously voted Labour. And a massive 81 per cent who intend to vote Ukip are former Labour voters.
Businessman John Mills, a major donor for Labour, warned the party faced a “difficult” by-election.
He said: “The constituency voted to leave the EU and the party campaigned to remain.
“If Labour is to hold on to this seat and others it must respond to voters’ concerns over Brexit and immigration.”