Ed Miliband more popular than Nick Clegg among Lib Dem voters

Ed Miliband is more popular than Nick Clegg among people who voted Liberal Democrat in last year's general election, according to a poll released today.

The YouGov survey for the Sunday Times found just one-third (33%) of those who backed Mr Clegg's party last May would do so again if there was an election tomorrow, while 41% would vote Labour and 11% Conservative.

Among Lib Dem voters at the last election, only 30% said Mr Clegg was doing a good job as leader, against 36% for Mr Miliband.

The poll comes after Thursday's by-election in Oldham East and Saddleworth, at which Labour claims it picked up thousands of ex-Lib Dem supporters, while the third party's vote was shored up by Tories backing it in the hope of shoring up the coalition Government.

Mr Miliband yesterday attempted to reach out to disaffected Lib Dems, saying he recognised how painful it must be for them to see their leaders make the "tragic mistake" of entering coalition with Conservatives and telling them he stood ready to cooperate with them to fight the Government's cuts agenda.

Overall, today's poll gave Labour a six-point lead on 43% to the Tories' 37%, with Liberal Democrats languishing on 9%.

David Cameron had his lowest personal approval rating in a Sunday Times poll since becoming Prime Minister eight months ago, with 48% saying he was doing badly and 45% doing well. But his overall approval rating of minus-3 was well ahead of Mr Miliband on minus-10 and Mr Clegg on minus-30.