Video: Labour extends lead over Tories - but how will you vote?

LABOUR has extended its lead over the Conservatives to four points while Ukip’s support is drifting, according to polling.
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Former Tory treasurer Lord Ashcroft’s research put Ed Miliband’s party on 36% - its highest rating since last July and an increase of 5% on last week.

Backing for the Conservatives is up two points to 32% while the Liberal Democrats dropped the same amount to 7%.

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Ukip is generally polling lower scores this year than in 2014 with its share of support having “drifted down since its height last autumn”, according to the Ashcroft National Poll.

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At the same time, we asked students in Leeds, many of them first time voters, to give their views on the state of the parties. Click the screen above to watch.

Lord Ashcroft said voters knew where the anti-Brussels party stood on immigration and the European Union “but at a general election they want to vote for someone with more to offer”.

He added: “Some also wonder whether unpleasant or even sinister elements lurk behind the reasonable and entertaining Mr Farage, a suspicion that may have been reinforced over the last few days. We will see as further polls are published whether this effect persists in the coming days and weeks.”

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The Tories were 22 points ahead on which party has the best approach to “cutting the deficit and the debt” while Labour had a 24 point lead on who would do better when it comes to “improving the NHS”.

The Green Party remains on 8% and the SNP is unchanged on 4%.

Despite the polling, Bookmaker William Hill said Labour was second favourite to finish the largest single party at the general election on 5/4 with the Conservatives 8/13 favourites and 1/5 on a hung parliament.

Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: “Political punters have been backing the Tories to emerge as the largest party, if not with an overall majority. Perhaps they are literally labouring under an illusion.”

• 1,000 adults were interviewed by telephone between February 20 and 22. The results have been weighted to be representative of all adults in Britain.

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