UKIP continues to make steady progress in the constituency of Camborne and Redruth according to polling conducted this week for a research and film documentary project at the University of Exeter at Penryn.

The poll, conducted by polling company Survation, sampled 500 voters in the highly marginal constituency which is, at present, represented by Conservative MP, George Eustice.

He gained the seat from the incumbent Liberal Democrat, Julia Goldsworthy, in the 2010 election by the narrow majority of just 66 votes.

The poll shows that UKIP are on 33 per cent, the Conservatives on 30 per cent, Labour on 22 per cent, Greens on seven per cent and the Liberal Democrats on six per cent. This suggests that UKIP has moved ahead in Cornwall since similar polls were conducted for the Lord Ashcroft polls in May and June.

UKIP have enjoyed an increase of +5 per cent (compared to the Ashcroft poll), but so have the Conservatives with a +2 per cent gain. This compares to a drop in support for Labour (-3 per cent) and the Liberal Democrats (-5 per cent).

This constitutes a 1.5 per cent swing from the Conservatives to UKIP since Lord Ashcroft’s poll, and follows a similar trend to the recent by-elections in Clacton and Rochester & Strood, which were both won by UKIP. The Liberal Democrats perform better when asked about the local situation, but still come fourth overall.

The survey also asked voters, following the recent Scottish referendum on independence, whether voters in Cornwall would like to see greater decision-making be devolved from Westminster and whether voters would support the creation of a Cornish Assembly, similar to that in Wales.

This poll result is clear evidence that voters in Camborne and Redruth overwhelming support more power being devolved from Westminster to Cornwall with 60 per cent in favour and only 19 per cent opposed. In terms of the creation of a formal Cornish Assembly, similar to that in Wales, 49 per cent of respondents are in favour with 31 per cent opposed: still a clear margin in favour of a Cornish Assembly.

Dr John Ault, who lectures in Elections, Campaigns and Referendums at the Penryn campus of the University of Exeter, said: "This poll suggests that UKIP continues to make further progress in seats like Camborne and Redruth, but the Conservatives are mounting what appears to be an effective defence to this challenge.

"The seat has progressively become a three-way marginal in recent years with the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats each winning one of the past three general elections. With the threshold to win a three-way marginal being lower, UKIP may view this seat as being one of their prime targets in next year’s election.

‘As well as showing the continued volatility of this seat the poll also suggests that Cornish voters overwhelmingly support greater devolution of power from Westminster to Cornwall, in a ratio of three to one.

"It also indicates that the vast majority of those that want greater power would like to see it held by a newly created Cornish Assembly.’

Joshua Butt, director of the film documentary for which the research was conducted, How the West Was Won, added: "This research is part of a series of polls and surveys we will be conducting, and shows how close the electoral contest in Cornwall could. Camborne and Redruth is a highly marginal seat and one which will be a key focus for our film."