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PLP lead over UBP cut to just four points

Changing times: A beaming Premier The Hon. Paula Cox and Leader of the Opposition Kim Swan. Ms Cox's PLP has seen its popularity drop since, enabling the UBP to pull within four points of the Government.(File photo by Tamell Simons)

The Progressive Labour Party’s lead over the United Bermuda Party has been cut to four percentage points in the latest poll by Mindmaps.Thirty-two percent of people said they would vote PLP if an election was called today, down from 44 percent in the previous poll three months ago.The UBP remained on 28 percent, with the BDA dropping from 13 percent to its lowest ever score of seven percent; combined the two Opposition parties got comfortably more votes than the PLP.Among blacks, 52 percent would vote PLP, 13 percent would vote UBP and five percent BDA; 53 percent of whites would vote UBP, four percent would vote PLP and nine percent BDA.A breakdown by age shows both traditional parties enjoy good support among older people: 43 percent of over-65s would vote PLP, 42 percent would vote UBP, and zero out of 72 people in that age bracket said they would vote BDA.The number of undecideds is larger among younger people: of the 35 to 44 age group, 22 percent would vote PLP and 21 percent would vote UBP, with 50 percent sitting on the fence.A UBP spokesperson said last night: “The UBP parliamentarians and Senators gave good accounts during the recent budget debate and served our party well.“In addition, our consistant positions on issues over several years are proving to be the correct ones, as financial mismanagement and unethical behaviour come back to haunt the PLP Government and make life difficult in Bermuda.”BDA chairman Michael Fahy said yesterday: “This poll demonstrates that the people of Bermuda are just tired of politicians generally.“People are looking for some real leadership and new direction, and they want to see something that’s different from what we’ve seen in Bermuda before.“The BDA has let itself down, to a certain extent, in the way we have been able to articulate our message and what we are looking for. We have do to a better job of managing that.“People are not at all pleased with the Government but as usual both Opposition parties have been unable to capitalise on that.“It’s worth noting though that there’s more support for the non-Government affiliated people than for the Government. That’s very telling.”The poll of 402 residents took place between March 29 and April 8 and has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.Useful websites: www.plp.bm, www.ubp.bm, www.thealliance .bm