Lib Dem surge could hit Labour across Yorkshire says new poll

Nick Clegg's party is now level pegging with Labour when it comes to support in the region – up seven points this week to 32 per cent – according to the weekly poll by YouGov for political website PoliticsHome.

If replicated across the region the poll of nearly 1,000 voters – which puts the Tories down five points this week on 28 per cent while Labour is down 12 per cent from its support in 2005 – would mean Labour stands to lose a string of seats.

But the Lib Dem advance in the wake of the first two leaders' debates would also hamper the Tories' chances of winning enough Yorkshire seats to form a majority.

Yesterday London Mayor Boris Johnson sought to persuade staff at Asda's headquarters that a hung parliament would be bad for the country during a visit to Leeds.

He also admitted that it would be "trying incredulity" to claim that the 2012 Olympics would bring great benefits to Yorkshire, departing from the line taken by Government and Olympics officials that all parts of the country will reap the rewards.

But his claims about a hung parliament were challenged by Labour and the Liberal Democrats as both parties sent economic big hitters to Yorkshire.

Chancellor Alistair Darling said he "had no problem" with

making a hung parliament work if there is no overall majority as he met business leaders in Leeds, while in Hull Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said: "These big scare stories that it would be terrible for the country are absolute nonsense."