Parliamentary by-election polls: Labour 17% ahead – or 1%

Two opinion polls are out tonight (so far – there may be a third) for the Oldham East and Saddleworth Parliamentary by-election caused by the disgrace of Phil Woolas.

The figures for party support are:

• ICM for Mail on Sunday: Labour 44%, Lib Dem 27%, Conservative 18%
• Populus for Lord Ashcroft / Sunday Telegraph: Labour 46%, Lib Dem 29%, Conservative 15%

UPDATE: New pollster Survation (who are applying for membership of the trade body, the British Polling Council) makes it much closer with Labour 31%, Lib Dem 30% and Conservative 6% (don’t knows not excluded, hence the lower figures all round).