Labour has suffered a sharp loss of public confidence across a wide range of policies as the Conservatives have held on to big gains of the autumn.

A Populus poll for The Times, undertaken last weekend, underlines the extent of dissatisfaction with the Brown Government. But voters remain wary about a Tory government.

The results will cause further alarm at No 10. Gordon Brown and his closest allies accept that they face a long haul to recover from recent blows.

Labour is now on 32 per cent. While this is 5 points lower than a month ago, this rating is slightly higher than in some polls a week or two ago and suggests that the Labour freefall of the autumn may have halted — though at historically low levels. The party averaged 39 per cent during Gordon Brown’s honeymoon in the summer.

By contrast, the Tories are now on 40 per cent, up 4 points since the last Populus poll a month ago, but in line with, or slightly below, other recent polls. This is the highest level ever reached by the party in a Populus survey. On a monthly average of all polls, the Tories were on 40 per cent in both October and November, compared with 33 per cent between July and September. This suggests that the Tories are consolidating, but failing to build further on the earlier rise in support.

The Liberal Democrats are unchanged on 16 per cent, and other parties remain on 11 per cent.

While 63 per cent of the public are dissatisfed with Labour, 47 per cent still prefer a Labour Government. Labour is down by 16 points to 35 per cent on being the best to manage the economy. The Tories are at 34 per cent, up six points in three months.

The Tories have overtaken Labour on getting the balance right between taxes and public spending, at 31 to 27 per cent, after a 10 point drop in Labour’s rating. The Tories have moved into the lead on representing Britain’s best interests in the EU, by 30 to 29.

Labour has also lost ground on the NHS and standards in schools, and remains only just ahead of the Tories, by four points and one point respectively. Labour’s biggest lead is on tackling the shortage of affordable housing where it is ahead by 36 to 20 per cent.

The Tories have strengthened their lead on crime and anti-social behaviour, immigration and asylum.

Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,506 adults aged 18 by telephone between December 7 and 9. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to be representative of all adults. For more details, visit www.populus.co.uk.

How would you vote if there were a general election tomorrow?

32% Labour (down 5)

40% Conservative (up 4)

16% LIb Dem (no change)

11% Other (no change)

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