Article

Although the next parliament will see an exceptionally large number of new MPs, we currently know relatively little about the 'class of 2010'. To fill this gap ippr conducted an online poll of Prospective Parliamentary Candidates in winnable seats from across the different parties.

The most significant set of findings concern the ideological position of the PPCs from the different parties. The survey found that Labour and Lib Dem PPCs have much more in common with each other than either set of candidates do with the Conservatives. This confirms that a left of centre coalition between Labour and the Lib Dems would be much easier to hold together politically than an arrangement between the Lib Dems and the Conservatives.