Ukip jump to 24% in ComRes poll – but is it accurate?

An experiment has resulted in Ukip getting a big rise in support: Tories are praying it proves inaccurate

Columnist Don Brind

A long-running debate among pollsters about how to assess the standing of smaller parties has been reignited by an experiment by ComRes for yesterday’s Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Mirror. It showed a five per cent jump in Ukip support when respondents were “prompted” that Nigel Farage’s party was one of the choices.

Some pollsters mention Ukip in their initial question along with the Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems. Others offer only the three well established Westminster parties plus “another party”. Only those who choose “other” are then offered the Ukip option.

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is a former BBC lobby correspondent and Labour press officer who is watching the polls for The Week in the run-up to the 2015 election.