A survey carried out by Christian Research has shown that some Christian voters associate politicians with biblical characters. 

The poll of 1,790 people asked them to compare political party leaders with well-known characters in the Bible. 

Some 26 per cent of those polled saw UKIP leader Nigel Farage as being like Herod, the ruler who, in the Gospel of Mark, has all the children under the age of two living in Bethlehem killed in a bid to find and kill the infant Jesus. 

And 17 per cent compared Nick Clegg to Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus. 

Eight per cent referred to Ed Miliband as Jacob, the Old Testament figure who usurped his brother Esau's birth right. 

David Cameron was voted by 11 per cent as Saul the ill-fated King who fell and was replaced by David, a man after God’s own heart. 

But some of the female party leaders were seen in a more positive light. More than one in five of those asked (22 per cent) compared SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon with Deborah, an Old Testament prophet who led her people against another nation. Leanne Wood, the CYMRU leader, was portrayed as Esther, a woman who was faithful to her family. 

And Green leader Natalie Bennett was most often seen as the original earth mother, Eve. 

Matthew van Duyvenbode, director of external relations, advocacy and research at Bible Society said: “Clearly there's a strong preference for female leadership among Christian voters. 

“It's obvious that biblical stories are still resonating with today's voters as they prepare for polling day.”