Poll shows Lib Dems just 12 votes behind Labour in Islington South

11.50.13am GMT Mon 31st Jan 2005

Liberal Democrats have revealed figures this week showing that the next general election is set to be a very close fight between Labour and the Lib Dems in the Islington South & Finsbury parliamentary constituency.

The official figures come from the last set of elections in the borough – the 2004 London elections – and show the Liberal Democrats breathing down Labour's neck with just a 12 vote difference between the two parties in Islington South & Finsbury.

The figures blow out of the water claims by both the Labour and Conservatives that the 2004 election results in the Greater London Assembly were good news for them. Both parties have based their claims on their performance across the North East London GLA constituency made up of three different boroughs.

Liberal Democrat councillor Bridget Fox, said:

"These figures show that in Islington South & Finsbury it really is neck and neck between the Liberal Democrats and Labour. The Conservatives cannot win here.

"All the elections over the years in Islington South have shown the Liberal Democrats making rapid progress and with Chris Smith standing down at the next elections Liberal Democrats could now win the parliamentary seat too."

Islington Council Leader, Steve Hitchins (Liberal Democrat) said:

"Labour has every reason to be nervous in Islington South & Finsbury.

"The tide has been turning against Labour and towards the Lib Dems for years now. Locally we have shown how the Liberal Democrats can turn Islington Council round given the chance.

"More and more people are backing the Lib Dems nationally. They are fed up with New Labour, see the Tories as a step back in time and like how we run the council. Now we have a real chance to show how a Liberal Democrat MP can make a real difference too."

The Facts

The figures are based on the official count by London Elects which organised the London-wide elections on June 10th 2004. The overall result in Islington South & Finsbury parliamentary constituency from the 2004 GLA constituency elections shows:LabourLib DemsToriesGreens A breakdown of the three main parties' votes in each of the eight wards in Islington South & Finsbury parliamentary constituency shows the Liberal Democrats ahead The Liberal Democrats have won the two council by-elections in the Islington South & Finsbury parliamentary constituency held since the May 2002 council elections Liberal Democrats won every single council seat in the Islington South & Finsbury parliamentary constituency at the last council-wide elections in May 2002.