Jeremy Corbyn and Caroline Lucas in front of Downing Street
Corbyn has so far rejected the idea of a ‘progressive alliance’

A poll has shown that, if it was necessary to form a Labour-led government, the Greens are Labour supporters’ preferred coalition partner.

Around 91% of Corbyn supporters would be happy to form a government with the Greens, as would 70% of Owen Smith supporters.

The next most popular coalition partners are the Scottish and Welsh nationalists, particularly among Corbyn supporters, 73% of whom would be happy to work the SNP and 71% would work with Plaid Cymru. For Smith supporters, the figures are 55% and 60% respectively.

On the other hand, Smith supporters would be as happy to work with the Lib Dems as the Greens (both 70%) while just 46% of Corbynites would be happy to work with Tim Farron’s party.

Unfortunately, in terms of the combined number of seats, the Labour Party is likely have much less to gain from a coalition with the Greens than the other parties. At the moment, the party has one MP compared to the SNP’s 54, the Lib Dems eight and Plaid Cymru’s three.

However, the polling suggests many Labour Party supporters may be open to the possibility of working with the Greens (and to a lesser extent the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Lib Dems) to form a ‘progressive alliance’, an idea supported by Caroline Lucas, Jonathan Bartley and Corbyn allies like Clive Lewis. Corbyn himself though has so far rejected the idea.

The polling was conducted by Yougov, who interviewed Labour members, registered supporters and union affiliates between the 25th and 28th of August.