If the Tories emerge victorious in the upcoming election, some are calling for the polling industry to be shut down for its perceived ineffectiveness. Sky News' Adam Boulton recently expressed his frustration with the industry, suggesting that their predictions and analyses have been unreliable. Have you ever participated in an opinion poll? I initially thought I hadn't, but a distant recollection from years ago resurfaced. I remember a friendly woman with a clipboard asking me questions in Pangbourne, Berkshire. It seems that my experience with polling was limited, but for many, these surveys play a significant role in shaping political narratives and predictions.

The Conservative party's recent missteps have led to a significant boost for the Labour party in the polls, with a near-record 20-point lead just 11 days before the election. According to the latest Opinium survey, Labour is currently at 40%, unchanged from the previous week, while the Tories have dropped to 20%, a decrease of three points. Additionally, the Reform party has seen a slight increase to 16%. The Tories' troubled election campaign is being cited as the main reason for Labour's surge in popularity.