UK General Election: With One Year To Go, Is It Too Close To Call?

With One Year To Go Until The UK General Election, Is It Too Close To Call?
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One year from today, the country will go to the polls to give its verdict on the coalition's performance and decide on the UK's next government – so, as the final countdown is launched, what's the current verdict?

Labour and the Conservatives are apparently almost neck and neck in the polls after a surge in Tory support, according to the latest research.

But unfortunately for the Prime Minister, nearly half the population believe he is failing at his job – including more than a quarter of those who backed him at the polls in 2010. Additionally, 51% of voters don't think Ed Miliband would be any good in the job either.

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Polling one year out from the next general election puts the Opposition on 34%, with the Tories up five points on last month to 33%.

According to the study by Survation for the Daily Mirror and Good Morning Britain, Ukip are on 18% and the Liberal Democrats are on 8%, both down two points.

Asked who they would support in a direct vote, Cameron was backed by 26%, the Labour leader 23%, Ukip's Nigel Farage 14% and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg 7%.

But in perhaps a stark illustration of the political apathy in the UK, two million young people have absolutely no intention of voting in next year’s general election at all, a separate study found.

In total 3.3million people will be eligible to vote for the first time in 2015 – but only 41% are actually planning to have their say at the ballot box.

Labour leads the way with 40% of the youth vote followed by the Tories with 25% and Ukip with 12%.

Disillusioned 17 to 21-year-olds think politicians are more interested in big business, pensioners, and... celebrities.

In more bad news for Nick Clegg and Farage - a separate report found young people believe Jeremy Clarkson,Russell Brand and Alan Sugar would make better prime ministers.

Ukip leader, Farage, gained a lowly 9% and poor old Clegg only managed 6%.

Who Should Be The Next PM?
Ed Miliband (17%)(01 of08)
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PROS: A viable alternative to the current coalition.CONS: Sometimes he doesn't photograph in a very... leader-esque manner. (credit:PA)
Nigel Farage (9%)(02 of08)
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PROS: Umm...CONS: He would be PM. (credit:PA)
David Cameron (15%)(03 of08)
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PROS: He's experienced.CONS: We have experience of his experience. (credit:PA)
Boris Johnson (15%)(04 of08)
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PROS: His loveable buffoonery.CONS: His loveable buffoonery. (credit:PA)
Lord Alan Sugar (12%)(05 of08)
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PROS: His extensive business experience would give him a solid economic platform.CONS: His severely diminished cabinet would consist of only him and whichever minister had made it through a challenging ranges of tasks. (credit:PA)
Jeremy Clarkson (11%)(06 of08)
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PROS: The removal of speed limits and the banishment of all health and safety bureaucracy.CONS: International isolation as our PM offends every country on the planet one-by-one in a series of unmitigated diplomatic disasters, undoubtedly starting with the French. (credit:PA)
Russell Brand (12%)(07 of08)
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PROS: He'd breeze the popular vote.CONS: He'd abolish voting and would rule for the rest of his natural existence, quite a problem when he has no actual coherent policies beyond "revolution". (credit:PA)
Nick Clegg (6%)(08 of08)
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PROS: It would finally give him something to smile about.CONS: It will never happen and that frown shall remain forever upside down. (credit:PA)

In contrast, Clarkson polled nearly double at 11% and Brand and Sugar both scored 12%.

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