Polling shows Praful Nargund leads two-horse race in Islington North
Corbyn may need boost in final days of campaign
Friday, 28th June 2024 — By Isabel Loubser
Praful Nargund and Jeremy Corbyn
A NEW poll has revealed Jeremy Corbyn could lose his seat unless the campaign gets a boost in the final days before the election.
The Survation poll, based on 514 responses and published on Tuesday, had Labour candidate Praful Nargund with 43 per cent support, and Mr Corbyn – now running as an independent – on 29 per cent. As expected, it supported the idea that Islington North is now a two-horse race.
The poll revealed that Mr Corbyn had a net favourability rating of +21.6, compared to Sir Keir Starmer whose favourability sat on just +0.3. According to the poll, 50 per cent of Islington North constituents believe that Labour’s decision to prevent Corbyn from standing for Labour was incorrect.
Data journalist Ell Folan, who raised funds and commissioned the poll, said Mr Corbyn’s favourability ratings “are exceptional and vastly better than Starmer’s ratings in this seat, and in a two-candidate race Corbyn would easily win”.
They added: “Given that voters oppose Corbyn’s deselection and would back him without a Tory on the ballot, the poll suggests that most voters are backing Labour only out of fear that the Tories will win in Islington North. But as the poll shows, the Tories can’t win here.”
Canvassers for the Corbyn campaign have said that they have already spoken to postal voters who had voted Labour thinking they were voting for Mr Corbyn, and suggested Green voters expect Mr Corbyn to win and so were not lending their votes.
Mx Folan added: “Corbyn is in a strong position to pull off a shock victory, but it is undeniable that this contest will be much tighter than many of his supporters had originally assumed.”
A spokesperson for Mr Corbyn’s campaign said: “If we can speak to every voter to tell them that he is standing as the independent candidate, Jeremy will win. People need to know that Jeremy is not the Labour candidate.
“That will be the difference between winning and losing in Islington North.”
A Labour campaign spokesperson said: “The only poll that matters is the election on July 4 and people here have a chance to be part of the change. We’re taking nothing for granted and fighting for every vote.”
