Labour
is now the third most popular party among working class voters, a new poll has
revealed, as the party faces a close-run battle with Ukip to hold on to one of
its key seats in the north.
Research
undertaken by YouGov found that Labour ranks behind Ukip and the Conservatives
among lower-income voters for what could be the first time in the party's
history.
It came as one of Jeremy Corbyn's closest allies called Ukip
voters in Stoke "toe-rags ... who nick your bike" ahead of a
by-election vote later this
month.
Commenting
on the remarks Ukip's media
spokesman said:
"Paul Mason has lifted the lid on what the radical left think about long time
Labour voters who have lost faith with that party and moved across to
UKIP.
"He
thinks they are “toe-rags”, presumably for feeling a sense of patriotism, for
feeling concerned about open door immigration and for supporting Brexit. “Any
voters who care about these issues but were pondering whether to still vote
Labour have their answer:
"Mr
Mason and the radical metropolitan left think they are scum. We in UKIP
understand and share their concerns and will always treat them with
respect.”
It
comes amid dire polling for Labour which shows the party trailing the
Conservatives by almost 20 percentage points on its equal lowest level since Mr
Corbyn became party leader.
The
latest YouGov poll for The Times put Labour at 24 per cent, matching a survey
for the company in December last year.
It
is Labour's worst performance since Gordon Brown was Prime Minister in 2009,
during one of the last Government's most unpopular periods.
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