25 April 2007 - Voters feel they have more in common with Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas than any leading Labour Party figure, an opinion poll shows today.

The poll, carried out by Populus and published in today’s Times newspaper, asked more than 1,300 people to give leading figures from Britain’s four main political parties a score based on the extent to which they ‘share your values on social and environmental issues’.

Participants gave Caroline Lucas an average rating of 4.21 (out of ten), higher than either of the three Labour figures: David Miliband (3.95), Tony Blair (3.62) and Gordon Brown (3.61).

Dr Lucas, who was named one of the top 100 ‘eco-heroes’ of all time in an Environment Agency survey last year, said: “I am delighted that voters feel I represent their social and environmental values better than my New Labour counterparts – but that’s entirely in line with the general rise in awareness of environmental issues and support for the Green Party in recent years.

“People are sick of New Labour lies and the party’s failure to take meaningful action on climate change. This survey proves that people see through the hype and are well aware of the yawning chasm between the government’s rhetoric and reality, not just on climate change but on a whole range of social and environmental issues. ”

The poll coincides with a Guardian/ICM poll which shows that nearly a third of voters have turned their backs on Labour and the Tories, with labour facing ‘wipe-out’ from many councils in next week’s local authority elections. The Green Party, which is polling at more than double its rating this time before the last election, expects to make gains across the country.

 

ENDS

Please click here for the poll findings in full