... but could there yet be a repeat of 2017?

THE latest results from Deltapoll for The Mail on Sunday show the Conservatives and Labour continuing to strengthen their positions. As these two parties increasingly dominate the vote share, could we be headed for a repeat of 2017?

When looking at the polls, it is always important to remember that they are subject to a margin of error. This is linked to the mathematical laws of probability and, while its impact can be reduced to some extent, it cannot be removed entirely. It is a good idea, therefore, to look at the long- term trends that emerge from a series of polls over time to get an understanding of the stories that are emerging.

Since the General Election was first called at the end of October, one key story to emerge has been the steady rise in support for the Conservatives. At the same time, Labour’s share of the vote has also increased, albeit by a smaller amount, and with the party still some way behind in second place.

This growth in support for the two largest parties is reminiscent of the 2017 Election when Labour and Conservatives won more than 82 per cent of the vote between them. In doing so they bucked a trend that had seen their combined share decline in most General Elections since the 1950s.

The extent to which 2017 can be repeated depends, at least in part, on the performance of other parties during the campaign. The Brexit Party has seen its share consistently decline, while the Liberal Democrats have seen more fluctuation, with a drop in Deltapoll’s most recent survey. While the Lib Dems are still performing better than they did at the last Election, they are, along with the Brexit Party, a long way down from the levels of support they enjoyed at the European parliamentary elections earlier this year.

European elections are, of course, very different from General Elections, and never was that more the case than back in May. Both the Brexit Party and the Lib Dems made hay while the sun shone on what was perceived to be the closest this country will probably ever come to a ‘consequence-free’ national election. In contrast, Labour, and particularly the Conservatives, really suffered.

Unlike the European elections, the consequences of the General Election are clear and present to many. Now that attention has moved away, at least somewhat, from Brexit and towards other issues, it is the Conservatives and Labour – realistically the only two parties likely to lead the new government – who are benefiting.

The other parties should not feel too despondent quite yet, however. There is still nearly a month to go and things could change dramatically. Plus, it is how all the parties perform in each of the 650 individual constituencies that really matters.

Polls inevitably move up and down during a campaign and the long-term trends could still move back in their favour. The story of the 2019 General Election is not yet written.