Last month two polls showed Livingstone had overturned Johnson’s 8 point lead, but was just 2% ahead with the backing of 51% of voters.
Today’s YouGov poll for the Evening Standard reverses the pair’s positions, placing Johnson ahead by the same margin.
Despite losing his overall lead, Livingstone leads Johnson on three of four specific issues pollsters asked respondents about.
Asked who they “most trust to handle the following issues facing London”, Livingstone came top for improving transport with a 16 point lead, cost of living in London (15 point lead) and creating jobs (3 points).
Johnson leads Livingstone by 4 points as the candidate best placed to tackle crime with 32%.
Although Livingstone’s promise to cut fares remains popular with 68% of the electorate, just 44% believe he would implement the cut.
The pair virtually tie when asked whether voters trust them overall to fulfil campaign pledges. 45% trust Johnson while Livingstone is trusted by 47%.
Johnson’s record of support for the City and bankers is seen as less of a handicap than Livingstone’s affiliation with unions.
45% agree with the statement “Boris Johnson’s support for City firms compromises his ability to speak up for Londoners”, while 50% believe “Ken Livingstone’s financial backing from unions compromises his ability to run Transport for London”
Just 9% identified “cutting the share of Council Tax paid to the Mayor’s office by one per cent” as a policy which appealed to them.
The poll puts Liberal Democrat runner Brian Paddick on just 6%, down 1% on last month’s poll, apparently confirming expectations that London faces a closely contested, two-horse race for City Hall.
Last week we revealed how the Green party’s Jenny Jones and UKIP’s Lawrence Webb are hoping to overtake Paddick and come third in a bid to boost seats on the London Assembly and secure greater coverage at the 2016 elections.
