A MARPLAN poll in last reafunrelli firmed Labour's new gain in popularity. 34 of the sample said they'd voting general compared to 38 per cent Tory Labour has cut the Tories' lead by 10 per cent since the general election.
Despite the poll, last week's Whittington by-election in the Chesterfield constituency saw Liberal returned for the first time in 25 years: In high poll compared to the usual 30 per cent — the Liberal won with per cent of the vote Labour had 39 pe cent and the Tories 16 per cent.
The Liberal gained 19 per cent from the Tories, per cent Labour, compared to last ear's counci results. Ihe Whittington result crows the of anticoalition the meether for Chesterfield. media is trying The Tories don't stand chance defeating Labour in the by-election. But a unified anti-Labour vote, with a collapse of the poll, let the Alliance in.
With speculation that early March is the likely date TOT Chesterfield's parliamentary by-election, Labour is gearing up for this crucial campaign. Labour chairperson Eric Heffer has already spoken at an early public meeting; and Neil Kinnock and Ros matters ey with many the shadow cabinet prominen spedeunionle sers, will be Socakule SuDDUIL candidate Tony Benn at the public meetings already planned.
The Labour leadership must figure prominently in