Time for the Coalition to End?

May 23, 2013, 7:54 AM GMT+0

Fourty-four per cent of voters would like to see the coalition end this year, including a quarter of Conservatives – and over a third of Conservatives would be prepared to share power with UKIP in the event of a hung parliament

In a speech at Westminster yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced his intention to see the coalition government through to the end of its term, arguing that “voters would not forgive either party if we call time ahead of the election”. David Cameron backed up his partner, claiming that the coalition still has “an enormous programme of work” to complete.

Today new YouGov research reveals that almost half of the public want the coalition to end either this year (44%) or in 2014 (5%), compared to a third (34%) who would like the coalition to last until just before the next election, up until it or after it.

A third of Conservatives want the want the coalition to end either this year (25%) or to last until 2014 (8%), while only 18% of Lib Dems say the same; that is compared to three quarters of Lib Dems (76%) and 57% of Conservatives supporting shared rule until just before, at the point of or after the next election.

Of those who actually voted for either of the coalition parties, it’s by no means certain they “would not forgive” an early break-up: 43% of those who voted Lib Dem in 2010 and 42% of those who voted Conservative want the coalition to end before or in 2014, while 41% of 2010 Lib Dem voters and 48% of 2010 Conservative voters think the coalition should last until just before, at the time of or beyond the next election.

In the event of a hung parliament in 2015 over a third (35%) of Conservatives would be prepared for their party to govern jointly with UKIP, and the same number would share power with the Lib Dems.

If Labour were to be the largest party, 38% of their supporters would back a coalition with the Lib Dems, a quarter (26%) would govern with the Greens and 13% would be happy to see their leader sharing power with UKIP.

See the full poll results

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