Full YouGov poll results

THE poll ratings of Gordon Brown have plunged to an all-time low as prime minister amid deepening economic gloom, disarray within the cabinet and increasing criticism of the government’s rescue of the Northern Rock bank, a new opinion poll shows.

The sharp fall comes just weeks after Brown was accused by his political opponents of cowardice in not calling an autumn general election. It will be seen as evidence that Labour’s strongest card under Tony Blair, its management of the economy, is being eroded as voters worry about jobs and house prices.

The YouGov poll of nearly 2,000 people for The Sunday Times shows that Brown’s honeymoon period has ended. Last month 59% thought that he was doing a good job as prime minister, while 29% said he was doing badly, a healthy net approval rating of +30.

Gordon Brown's Black Wednesday

The Northern Rock disaster has torn away any remaining credibility the Prime Minister had

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Now only 33% think he is doing well and 43% think he is doing badly, a net approval rating of -10 and a precipitous drop of 40 percentage points in a month. At the height of his honeymoon in the summer, his approval rating was +48.

It is reflected in a widening opinion poll lead for the Tories, who are now six points ahead of Labour, up from three last month. The Tories are on 41%, unchanged, while Labour has slipped by three to 35% and the Liberal Democrats are up two at 13%.

One Labour MP said: “I’m not surprised the edifice is crumbling. New Labour built its reputation on house values and economic competence. Now people are bothered about their house prices and worried about money, it is bound to reflect on Labour and the PM. He’s been lucky for 10 years.”

Peter Kilfoyle, Labour MP for Liverpool Walton and a former minister, said: “Gordon is going through a bit of a rough patch, but he has got 18 months to two years to make his mark.

“Personally, I think it has got to be about delivery rather than policy initiatives. He has got to shape a reputation for delivery. It is one thing to be a chancellor and another to be a prime minister."

The poll comes amid calls for the government to clarify its position over Northern Rock and the tens of billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money that could be at risk from the rescue operation.

Vince Cable, the acting Liberal Democrat leader, called on Alistair Darling, the chancellor, to come to the House of Commons tomorrow and explain what the government is doing.

“The government may be hoping for a knight in shining armour from the private sector to take on the bank and pay back government loans, but this looks highly unlikely,” he said. “The least worst option would be to nationalise Northern Rock to safeguard taxpayers’ money and sell the bank in due course.”

Treasury officials said nationalisation of the bank was not even being considered. Officials will be seeking approval from Brussels to continue emergency support of the bank beyond February, when the existing facilities expires.

The Northern Rock affair and the credit crisis have hit confidence in the property market with 25% of people thinking house prices in their area will fall over the next year.

The prime minister's poll woes come amid signs of strain within government. On Friday it had emerged No 10 had intervened to water down a speech by Miliband in a bid to stop it annoying Eurosceptics.

Ministers are concerned that Brown’s “control freak” tendencies are appearing as he comes under pressure from David Cameron, the Tories’ leader.

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