Clegg set for backlash in wake of TV debate boost

A clutch of new polls have revealed a sharp upswing in support for the third party, with one putting them top for the first time in more than a century. A YouGov poll last night became the latest to put the Lib Dems in first place, on 33 per cent – ahead of the Tories on 32. Labour lagged well behind with 26 points.

YouGov president Peter Kellner said: "Something extraordinary is happening. It is clear the news of their surge has given Nick Clegg's bandwagon a big push forward over the weekend. The key question is: Will it last until polling day?"

Mr Clegg's success represents a remarkable turnaround given it follows the first televised leaders' debate – a stage many had argued he did not deserve to share with the two larger political parties.

But since the 90-minute broadcast was aired last Thursday poll ratings have fluctuated dramatically, leading to a wave of media coverage for the Liberals on which Mr Clegg has sought to capitalise, claiming there was now an "immense" opportunity to break with the "old politics".

Mr Clegg, who is also campaigning to retain his Sheffield Hallam seat, warned there will now be a vicious backlash from Labour and the Tories.

He said: "A growing number of people are starting to hope, starting to believe a little door has opened, that maybe this time we can do things differently. Of course they'll attack and of course they'll come up with all sorts of misleading claims.

"The old politics messed up our economy. It was the old politics that allowed greedy bankers to gorge themselves on bonuses."

Mr Clegg, who will today outline a 3 billion plan to create a new economy based on green jobs, dismissed as "completely absurd" reports that he is more popular than Mr Churchill.

"I think people are getting a little hyped up," he said.

Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron have responded to the swing away from them with the Prime Minister attacking Lib Dem economic policies as a "mistake" and the Tory leader warning a Liberal vote could let Labour back in.

Mr Brown said he was determined to "expose" the party's policies. Mr Cameron said a "decisive" Tory vote was needed to stop another five years of Gordon Brown.