Labour third behind Lib Dems - poll

Labour has been pushed into third place behind the Liberal Democrats as the party favoured to form the next government, according to a new poll.

Labour is in third place behind the Lib Dems in a new opinion poll which shows the Tories leading Labour is in third place, behind the Lib Dems, in a new opinion poll which shows the Tories leading [PA]

The Ipsos Mori survey puts the Tories on 36%, the Lib Dems on 25% and Labour on 24%. Last month the Conservatives were on 43%, Labour on 26% and the Lib Dems just 17%.

It is the first time Labour has been in third place since February 1982, when support dipped to 33%, one point behind the Liberal-SDP Alliance.

It also suggests the Tories have lost some support to Nick Clegg's party following the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth last week.

However, Ipsos Mori said the Lib Dems do traditionally enjoy a "bump" in the polls following the annual conference and Labour will be hoping for a similar bounce at the end of this week.

The headline figures are based on those who say they are "certain" to vote at the next General Election.

Labour strategists may gain some comfort from results showing satisfaction with the Government has increased for the third consecutive month, although it is still negative on balance.

Of those asked, 69% are dissatisfied and 26% are satisfied, which compares favourably to last month's figures when 71% were dissatisfied and 23% satisfied. Satisfaction with the way Gordon Brown and David Cameron are doing their jobs is unchanged from last month, but Mr Clegg's personal satisfaction ratings improved.

When asked which of the three leaders would make the most capable Prime Minister, 41% chose Mr Cameron, 24% chose Mr Brown and 16% chose Mr Clegg.

Ipsos Mori interviewed 1,003 British adults aged 18 and over by telephone between September 25-27 2009.

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