CYP Now election poll backs Labour for power

Against the backdrop of what many commentators are describing as one of the most unpredictable elections in years, Labour has garnered 56 per cent of the 504 votes cast so far in the CYP Now online ballot.

The party, which has pledged to re-open Sure Start children’s centres, boost spending on mental health services for children, and improve vocational opportunities for teenagers, received more than four times as many votes as its nearest rival.

The Green Party, which lists increasing youth service spending by £1bn each year among its manifesto pledges, is in second place with 14 per cent of the overall vote.

The Conservative Party is trailing in third place with a 13 per cent share of the vote.

The Liberal Democrats are fourth with eight per cent of the vote, just three percentage points ahead of Ukip, which has five per cent of the total.

Other parties have received four per cent of the vote.

The outcome of the general election proper is likely to become clear in the early hours of Friday morning.

Pledges around early years funding have proved a key battleground during the past month, with Labour, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats each making manifesto pledges to boost free childcare provision.

Latest opinion polls for the general election suggest Labour and Conservatives are level in support, with a pre-election poll released this morning by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft putting both on 33 per cent.