the "sunday times" commissioned an opinion poll from mori in the constituency which was published on 4 march. it found that labour was leading with 50%, the conservatives had 36% support, and the other parties were trailing: liberal democrats 5%, sdp 4% and green party 4%. the poll also found that four out of five voters thought the poll tax was the main issue in the election. labour downplayed the poll. liberal democrat leader paddy ashdown highlighted the fact that their candidate, alone among the main parties, was local and had not been "chosen in london and parachuted in". he believed labour's alternative local government 'roof tax' was ridiculous and that his own party's proposal of a local income tax would win votes.