UK's 'third party' tops shock poll

Britain's Liberal Democrats, normally the country's third-largest party, has soared so far up in the opinion polls that one even placed them on top yesterday, weeks ahead of the May 6 election.
The surge in support for the Liberal Democrats follows what commentators and surveys found was a strong performance by their leader Nick Clegg in Thursday's first ever televised election debate between Britain's party leaders.
A BPIX poll in The Mail on Sunday newspaper put the Lib Dems up 12 percent over the past week to 32 percent, with the Conservatives down seven at 31 percent and Labour down three at 28 percent.
BPIX surveyed 2,149 people over Friday and Saturday.
Such figures make a hung parliament and a rare coalition government seem even more likely.
Under Britain's electoral system, such a result could see Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his governing Labour Party end up in pole position -- despite coming third in the popular vote.