Nick Clegg *Could Lose Seat At Next Election*

Sky News – 

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg could lose his seat in Parliament at next year's General Election, a leaked opinion poll has suggested.

Commissioned by a party supporter, the ICM poll indicated the Deputy Prime Minister risked defeat in Sheffield Hallam.

The poll signals mounting pressure on Mr Clegg's leadership in the wake of his party's disastrous European Elections performance, which saw it lose all but one of its 11 MEPs.

It predicted that Mr Clegg could lose out to Labour in the consituency - previously considered a "safe" Lib Dem seat - if he remains leader.

The survey of four Lib Dem seats, reported in The Guardian, suggested the party would also lose Cambridge, Redcar and Wells.

It will also cast doubt on the assumption that the incumbency factor would save sitting MPs and outweigh the national party's unpopularity.

And while it suggested the party could do better under Business Secretary Vince Cable or Danny Alexander, neither would offer enough of a boost to save any of the four seats.

Responding to reports of a private poll, a Liberal Democrat spokesman tweeted: "We have no idea where this polling comes from but it has clearly been commissioned and leaked for political purposes.

"It bears no relation to the result on Thursday night. Lib Dems secured 38.7% of the vote across Sheffield Hallam, Lab 23.6%, Tories 10.7%."

Lib Dem MP John Pugh has admitted to Sky News  that he would prefer to see Mr Cable lead the party because he was more popular with voters.

But the Business Secretary pledged his loyalty during a visit to China, saying: "There is no leadership issue. Now is not the time for infighting and introspection. The party must hold its nerve."

More than 300 Lib Dems, including councillors and candidates, have called on Mr Clegg to step down for the sake of his party.

But allies insist the Deputy PM remains strong and he rejected suggestions he could step aside during an emotional interview on Monday.

"At the point when our big decisions, our big judgments are being vindicated, we are not going to buckle," he said.

"We are not going to lose our nerve. And we are not going to walk away."

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nick-clegg-could-lose-seat-next-election-033233402.html