David Smith
Download 'Too Hot', an exclusive Specials track from iTunes
The prospect of Gordon Brown taking over as prime minister has narrowed the Conservative poll lead to just two points, its lowest for nine months, according to a YouGov poll for The Sunday Times (read the poll in full).
Compared with a month ago Labour is up one at 35%, the Tories down one at 37% and the Liberal Democrats down one at 14%, with other parties also on 14%.
Excluding the short-lived bounce Labour enjoyed when Tony Blair gave his farewell speech to his party conference last September, the Tory lead is back where it was when David Cameron took over as leader at the end of 2005. His honeymoon appears to be over while Brown’s may be beginning.
Asked about how they rated Brown and Cameron on a range of qualities, the Conservative leader came off second best on most. Brown was easily ahead on “sticking to his principles” (49%-19%); being strong (44%-11%); and being decisive (38%-12%). He also had a small lead on honesty (23%-18%).
Cameron, in contrast, stood out only on being charismatic; 30% said he was, against only 4% for Brown. In the Brown camp, where the decision has been taken not to try to compete with Cameron in the charisma stakes, these results will be regarded as reassuring. Asked whether they agreed with Blair’s description of Brown as a “big clunking fist”, only 35% of voters agreed.
For the Conservatives and their new director of communications Andy Coulson the challenge is to show that their man has weight and gravitas as well as an attractive public image.
Brown won when people were asked who they would prefer to share a foxhole with in the face of enemy gunfire. Cameron was ahead in the “agony aunt” stakes: more people said they would want to take a problem to him than Brown.
Voters think Brown should test his standing in the country at the earliest opportunity. By 53% to 35% they think the fact that he became Labour leader in waiting unopposed means he has no mandate to govern the country. A bigger majority, 57% to 32%, thinks he should call a general election within six months of becoming prime minister.
On policy, voters split on traditional lines. Cameron is seen as more trusted than Brown on immigration and law and order. Brown is more trusted on the NHS, education and relations with the European Union. Despite 10 years as chancellor in which the tax burden has increased significantly, Brown is more trusted on taxation.
But there could be bad news on the way for Brown on the economy. After four interest rate hikes from the Bank of England since last August, and the promise of more to come, 27% of people say their finances have been squeezed.
YouGov also asked about the smoking ban in pubs, clubs, restaurants and other public buildings that will take effect in England on July 1 (read the poll in full). The poll suggests that, despite complaints from smokers and some businesses, there is overwhelming public support for the ban. By 77% to 20% people approved. Support for outlawing smoking in enclosed public places is strongest among women and young people of both sexes.

Sam Coates's blog about Westminster, politics and spin
Win a luxury weekend to Newcastle and its neighbour Gateshead, find out more here
Risk, resilience and embracing new technology
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Discover the power of collective thinking. Submit a solution and be in with a chance to win a Media Hub Home Entertainment System
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Make the most of the summer and enter our fabulous photographic competition, you could win a £5000 holiday
Corsica is an island of beauty and contrast, an ideal holiday destination
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
The clever way to lease a new car is with Car leasing made simple™
2009
per month on 36-month
Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
2008
42850
Car Insurance
£24,250 - £30,346
MI5
London
£60,000
The Environment Agency
Bristol
Up to £90K
Boots
Midlands
OTE £85k
Credit Protection Association
Nationwide Opportunities
Completely London
Luxury Condo's in Manhattan with NYC views
The best new homes in Wimbledon?
Nationwide
Fabulous Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers Including Virgin Atlantic Flights Prices Start From Only £699pp!
Last Minute Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers. Med From £499pp, Caribbean From £699pp!
5 star quality at a 3 star price.
8 fabulous Canadian cities ...you won’t find cheaper
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
Doesn't this poll show an increase in Labour support mostly at the expense of the Lib Dems?
Ralph, Oxford,
What nonsense Bill, Cameron knows he has probably 2 years to
project his policies before a general election, the best thing he can
do at this stage is stay a little quieter in the coming months , doing some & wait for
real groundwork in preparation.
He should wait for Gordon Brown to either make a huge mistake or
fulfill all our expectations & become the control freak we suspect he is.
Then Cameron should come forward with some fresh & innovative
proposals, doing so would almost certainly win him the next election.
It would be highly unlikely for anyone to sustain a lead for the the
expected period we are looking at.
Lay low a while , then come forward with well thought out policies he
can see Gordy neither thought of or had the courage to deploy.
Maggie Millington, Brittany, France
Is anyone remotely surprised that the Tories are starting to slip? Once Gordon Brown is in No 10 with a set of fresh faces round the cabinet table and some fresh ideas and policies, the Tories will slip even further. As anyone can see, David Cameron is no future Prime Minister. Who knows, the Tories may even start to wish they'd never got rid of Iain Duncan Smith!
K Philips, London,
Cameron is loosing out due to not presenting any policies.The public has seen thru all his spin and hype. Hugging Hoodies and Huskies did not impress the UK public.He should take a leaf out of Sarkozys book in France and offer more substance. Brown details policies on Europe Cameron is to frightend to talk about Europe. Charisma does not count that much as running a good economy and handling Brussells with "With A Big Cluncking Fist" as Brown does.
Bill Rees, Truro, Cornwall
Why oh why does this not suprise one tiny bit. With Cameron & Co embarking on what I term Powder Puff Politics losing supporters in droves any form of backing from the right- minded electorate is lost. This poor excuse of a supposed leader of a Once Proud main stream party has in my mind inflicted too much damage by blatantly ingnoring the pleas of a much maligned Indigenous British Public. Golden opportunities to WACK the Opposition right were it hurts have been squandered by playing the "Pretty-Pretty" way the consequence being a picture of very little to chose between all three parties. A Bit of Maggies Backbone might be of help, but alas I fear that would be too late. Certainly my support and that of my families only hope is with a more right thinking party?
Phil Shortland, Burton-Latimer, England
The Times is with Blair and Labour and shows the accusations of cronyism are true as the Editors must be dictated to by the Government.
Poodle power and schismatic Parties as in the USA are not making EU more livable for the light gene numbers and an end to the Nazis destruction and RC hatred of Protestants and Jews so evident from the monastic Swastika and Axis in general.
The Allies were lead astray by RC, Trueman and Eden Churchill winning war at all costs and being very RC and pro Indian and Afro Growth as has happened since the UN and Commonwealth were created by the change from GV1 to ER2.
To protect resources and keep populations at sensible numbers there has to be far better maths management and reductions in Asian and Afro numbers with increases in the Blond and blue populations in EU and world wide.
Drift and phlogiston, polytheism, bad finance, bad laws and other errors in the future plans are sick in this age of warmer northern climes. The tropics' must be limited.
Dr MI Barton MA. MBA.PhD, Oxford, UK
The electorate have discovered that Cameron has no vision for Britain and only pretends to be in touch with the realities of life. Charisma counts only for so much, then it's down to policies and credibilty. Just a pity that Brown's record on openness is so poor.
Nev, Rudkøbing, Denmark
oh no!! not another great leader in waiting.when are the sad english puplic going to get it that they are all the same.the politicion,s are the cause off all the problems how can they have the solutions.get rid off the lot off them before it is too late.!!
gerry, brighton, england
Very interesting poll. I never had much time for Gordon Brown but now that we have seen more more of him I am beginning to think that his uncharismatic image is exactly what people want -- as borne out by the poll.
Cameron is trying to out-Blair Blair, and people are sick of it. He strikes me as intellectually flimsy, whereas Brown seems much more serious about the job. After 10 years of Blair, it's a blessed relief to think we'll have a proper heavyweight in that job.
Speaking as a supporter of neither main party, I say this: Let's give the bloke a chance.
Peter Dent, Lincoln, UK
Just goes to show how deluded people are in this country, after ten years of a labour Goverment. Trust in Brown, have people got short term memories. High Taxes, waste in Public Services. People should wake up and smell the coffee - I wouldn't trust him to make me coffee...
RK, Herts,
What a lot of damage the Grammar Schools row has done.
Its the manner of the way some Tory MP's disagreed with their Leader rather than reasoned debate itself that has caused the damage. The soundbites on their Leader that some on the right wing have given to Labour is unbelievable. The only way the Tories can lose the next election is if the Tories lose it themselves - the way they are targetting David Cameron shows that they are well on the way to doing that right now.Unbelievably stupid and selfish for those of us who long for a Tory Governement applying Tory pinciples to todays world.I could almost despair.
_Peter Buss, Canterbury, UK
This poll just goes to show how stupid and ignorant the electorate in this country has become.
Michael Rigby, Blackburn, England