The Liberal Democrat leadership contest is still wide open, according to a YouGov poll commissioned exclusively for Sky News.

The poll of 678 Lib Dem members finds Nick Clegg ahead with 56% of the vote among all those naming a candidate.  However, the results show that Chris Huhne (44%) is still able to beat the front-runner as half the membership (52%) has not yet voted and many members remain undecided (24%).

The general public, however, is unmoved by the Lib Dem race.  Asked ‘who would make a better leader of the Liberal Democrats?’ 79% said they did not know (11% chose Nick Clegg, 10% Chris Huhne).

More than three-quarters of Lib Dem members (84%) want Charles Kennedy back on the front bench. And if neither Clegg nor Huhne were standing, Kennedy is considered the ‘best of the rest’ by a third of members (34%).

Voter appeal, rather than competence or better policy programme, is key to Nick Clegg’s voting lead. Half of those polled (53%) think he has more voter-appeal than Chris Huhne who received nearly six times less votes in this area (9%).

However, more members think Huhne has a better policy programme (28% to 19%). Asked if one of the candidates is ‘significantly more competent than the other’, 60% of members say there is not much difference on competence.

Paddy Ashdown is the best Liberal Democrat leader since the party was formed, according to over half of members polled (54%); followed by Charles Kennedy (37%).  Most members think Ming Campbell is the worst (55%).

Nearly half of members polled (49%) prefer Gordon Brown as Prime Minister than David Cameron (18%) and would prefer to side with Labour rather than the Conservatives in the event of a ‘hung parliament’. 44% would oppose a coalition with the Tories under any circumstances, while only 26% would oppose a similar deal with Labour.

(You Gov interviewed a representative sample of 678 Liberal Democrats members and 2000 members of the general public between 26th and 30th November.)

Comments

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 6 Dec 2007 09:46:41]

Carol-Ann,
If Des Browne reads your posting, he'll probably be asking people what a pincer movement is!
Anyway, at least he tries very much harder than Hoon did when he was in his position, although that doesn't take much doing!

[carol-ann liverpool 5 Dec 2007 15:37:00]

Merv

It seems that Dave was caught in a pincer action by Vince and Gordon!
He was outflanked, outwitted, out of his depth!!

[carol-ann liverpool 5 Dec 2007 15:29:13]

Peter, Fife

Thank you for that information - You are one of he few people on here who actually adds substantially to the sum of knowledge or moves the debate forward

That puts a whole different light on it.
I kind of thought something like that might be going on but I dismissed it after hearing the politicos analysis - which was ,that the barb was particularly hurtful given the history of their friendship.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 4 Dec 2007 06:35:43]

Liverbird
Strong words from Carol Ann yesterday, assasins,clobbered,duff up, I do believe you are enciting the MP's to violence! New Labour tatics are rubbing off your leader.

[Peter, Fife 3 Dec 2007 18:36:28]

Carol Ann,

Far from a ruthless assassin Vince Cable is Gordon Brown’s friend and was apparently using the language that they commonly use amongst themselves in private, that is if you believe the claims of those insiders; his offence was that he thought this familiarity was acceptable on the floor of the house and has been left to fire fight his position trying hurriedly to create a defence.

The new face of the Liberals may have less lines and more hair atop than they have been used to since Charles Kennedy was ousted from office however I restate my thoughts of this morning that there is no change of policy on the horizon from either of their leadership contenders; same old, same old.

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 3 Dec 2007 12:45:41]

Carol-Ann,
So I bet Mr. Cameron is delighted that the assassins prefer Labour!

[carol-ann liverpool 3 Dec 2007 11:50:42]

Peter

I wouldn't say the LibDems will be 'the same old, same old.....

They have gone from being all woolly-pully, cuddly to being ruthless assassins!

Infact, after PMQs last week it occured to me that they actually sounded more like the NuCons - can't see any pacts with Labour after Vince the Wince clubbed GB, can you? lol
He needs to duff up Cammers before I can believe that they aren't looking towards a pact with the NuCons!

[Peter, Fife 3 Dec 2007 09:11:05]

Does it really matter which candidate is elected? Having listened to the two contenders yesterday Liberals policies seem bound to remain unchanged; same old, same old.

Same old policies which attract on average a 22% well spread vote, producing at best three score seats.

Same old policies that have failed to make an impression on the swing voters, except at by-elections.

Same old nice words said about ousted and caretaker leaders; when are the Liberals going to join the 21st century?

Nice does not work, look at the Conservative's leader.

[james marske by the sea 2 Dec 2007 20:34:05]

Liberal Democarts ? does it matter which way you spell it. they just trundle along out of touch with the real world and engrossed in their regular pick a leader to get T.V. publicity campaign or should that be "camping"? anyway if the rest of the country continue to want out of the E.U. and the liberals want us in then enough said. Not quite! cannot resit another "go".These people are so out of touch out with the people and so sure that they are right and the majority of the public are wrong, that they have no chance of getting elected , except perhaps to give us all a laugh at M.P.s question time.

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 2 Dec 2007 18:44:34]

I didn't think that the two Lib. Dem. leadership candidates were at all interested in getting into bed with either Gordon or David, so what the rest of the party thinks probably won't count, and obviously Vince isn't impressed with the P.M.'s performance!

[Khalid 2 Dec 2007 15:59:43]

Sir
If I may just revert back to the situation surrounding Sudan, as well as Darfur.
Unless, the captive, in this case, Mrs Gibbons is home by Wednesday, or earlier, those whom so displayed their swords and sticks etc will forfeit all benefit of their life long prayers, otherwise known as namaz, whilst the very person further exasberateing her captivity, shall furher take advantage of the gates of hell at the end of their natural life on earth.
Thus far as the matter of Darfur, the Sudanese authorities must further ensure an immediate freeflow of aid to the region within the next 7 days, if not sooner, to qualify for leniance.

[Brian Christley. Abergele 2 Dec 2007 14:35:52]

Gordon Brown tells us that his Dad was wiser than anyone else’s Dad, at least he seems to have convinced some Lib Dems!

[Brian Christley. Abergele 2 Dec 2007 14:34:21]

If we follow Brown’s ‘new vision’ then before a family makes a decision they should invite their neighbours to carry out a review and a risk assessment of all the possible options. It is little wonder that the Lib Dems support Brown

[Dave Blackburn 2 Dec 2007 14:28:08]

Effie, I hope you recover soon!
Pls tell me have you got a NHS dentist, or have you been forced to go (oh...the shame) private???
There isn't going to be a hung parliament....so pls don't hang onto that hope.
I don't see a connection between how the tree huggers would vote & a Conservative revival.Unfortunately, I'm old enough to remember the last LibLab pact.

[Mandy, Glasgow. 2 Dec 2007 14:08:38]

Nick Clegg reminds me too much of Cameron, Huhne I would take more seriously.

Looks like the only party willing to share with the Tories are the Scottish Nationalists. A sad sad day for Scotland.

[Longmemory One Crawley 2 Dec 2007 12:50:38]

The poll results show the typical reaction of LIBB/DEM voters, " er- um lets sit on the fence a bit longer and hope someone else makes a move"it's all so predictable

[Victor, NW Kent 2 Dec 2007 12:32:34]

I am hardly surprised that the LibDems would prefer an alliance with Labour if there is a hung Parliament - that, and the EU MEP gravy train are their only reasons for existence.

Current trends indicate that their number of MPs after the next election may be so few as to make little difference.

As the SNP may possibly have 40 Scottish MPs at that time they might be better able to enter into a coalition and that could not be with Gordon Brown.

[Danny 2 Dec 2007 11:51:49]

Its interesting that the stats. only refer to LibDem members, who seem to prefer an indecisive PM who could not face the electorate, maybe knowing what was going to come out.
The current mess that the government is in, may only get worse, there is more, on the money front, and the response from spokesmen always come out with "We need stronger rules so we wont break them," but that's why the 2000 Act was passed and they did for that too.
There are other heavily embarassing things in the wings waiting to come out, and they will.
Being in power for ten years, inevitably makes a lot of enemies, who walk softly with the back stabbing knife.

[Ron Lewis - Milton Keynes 2 Dec 2007 10:47:26]

Huhne has just said in the joint interview with Clegg that "the trades unions could have a poll to decide how much is given to Labour - then if it was, say, 60% - that would be given to Labour" (ish, not verbatim) BUT many years ago when I joined 2 unions, each one asked on the application form if you wished to contribute to the political fund - i.e. the money that is to be given to Labour. Has anything changed? If, not, how come Huhne does not know this? No doubt he will pu a different spin on it, if asked, but I got the impression that he did not realise that is what happens (or at least did!) I last joined BIFU about 17 years ago, so things may have change.

[greg 2 Dec 2007 10:28:16]

Little bit unclear how LibDem members preferring Labour to Conservative puts paid to the concept of a Conservative revival. Just shows how out of touch members are with the wider electorate to me!

[J, Herts 2 Dec 2007 07:52:38]

What will happen to Vince Cable after the new Lib Dem leader is elected ? I suggest that he is head hunted by Labour as a replacement for Gordon Brown, sooner rather than later. The trouble is, do Labour have to cash to pay his tranfer fee without breaking the law with dodgy donations ?

[Effie 2 Dec 2007 03:36:25]

It is even worth having a touch of the old toothache just to read this.
How it does my old heart good to read it.
"Nearly half of members polled (49%) prefer Gordon Brown as Prime Minister than David Cameron (18%) and would prefer to side with Labour rather than the Conservatives in the event of a ‘hung parliament’. 44% would oppose a coalition with the Tories under any circumstances, while only 26% would oppose a similar deal with Labour"
(You Gov interviewed a representative.

So much so for the Conservative revival, I will go back to bed with the toothache and a panadol feeling a whole lot better.
What Sweet dreams I will have!!

[Effie 2 Dec 2007 03:35:35]

It is even worth having a touch of the old toothache just to read this.
How it does my old heart good to read it.
"Nearly half of members polled (49%) prefer Gordon Brown as Prime Minister than David Cameron (18%) and would prefer to side with Labour rather than the Conservatives in the event of a ‘hung parliament’. 44% would oppose a coalition with the Tories under any circumstances, while only 26% would oppose a similar deal with Labour"
(You Gov interviewed a representative.

So much so for the Conservative revival, I will go back to bed with the toothache and a panadol feeling a whole lot better.
What Sweet dreams I will have!!

[Mark, Wales 2 Dec 2007 01:18:22]

So a vote for the Liberal Democarts could mean a vote for Labour if a hung parliament

[Khalid 1 Dec 2007 23:54:41]

Good Evening "Robbie Rivera" and indeed what a surprise many a poll brings. On the one hand it comes as no surprise that the party,which incidently remains unelected since its formation, is pointing towards a younger leader, however,on the other it is very hot under the collar as many an assertion is made if not givwen the chance to be heard. However, unless the party comes up with radical proposals to rid the populus from such schemces as the TV Licence, Council Tax and many others, I'm sure I will be able to "Relax" in the knowledge that http://www.sky.com/news is by far the best and the only news channel.