The Green campaign for this May’s GLA elections is celebrating Mayor of London candidate Siân Berry’s strong showing in today’s YouGov/Evening Standard poll of 533 influential Londoners, which ends any suggestion that Siân can be considered a fringe candidate. Siân won the second votes of over a quarter of the opinion-formers, beating both Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson, and leaving "Others" trailing far behind on just 6%. 1
Campaign press officer Gary Dunion welcomed the result, saying that it clearly showed respondents were keen to send a message that they want a Greener City Hall, but urged them to double the value of their vote by putting her first on the ballot.
He said:
"It’s a huge boost to the campaign to get this endorsement as a real contender by key opinion-formers in the capital. People clearly want to send a message that they want a Greener City Hall – more concern for poverty, small business, the environment and a healthy city – but they risk losing out on the full value of their vote by putting Siân second.
"Voting for Siân first lets Livingstone and Johnson voters double the value of their vote. They send a strong Green message where it gets noticed, and, if she doesn’t make the second round, their vote goes to their traditional candidate when it’s needed most – in the runoff.
"Lib Dem is also a popular choice for voters looking to send a message, but what message is actually sent by a strong result for a candidate who doesn’t stand for anything in particular? While the antics of their AMs might surprise them, most Lib Dem voters will find their values chime more closely with the Greens. So to those thinking of voting for Bran Paddick, I’d say – if you want to send a message for change that might actually get heard, vote first for Siân."