Labour poll disaster

SUPPORT for Labour has plunged to its lowest level since the party was humiliated in the 1983 General Election, an opinion poll revealed last night.

Backing for Labour has tumbled to 27 per cent, down four points from a month ago.

Soaring discontent with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown means Labour is almost certain to face a battering in the Scottish, Welsh and English local elections in 10 days time.

Labour’s figure of 27 per cent in last night’s poll is even lower than the total vote won by Michael Foot when he led the party into the 1983 election with a manifesto described as “the longest suicide note in history”.

However, there was little good news for David Cameron and the Conservatives.

Mr Brown – who is not thought to be involved in the investigations into secret loans and the sale of honours – is likely to be concerned that the polls could get even worse if he becomes Prime Minister

The poll found 36 per cent support for the Tories, a long way short of the 40 per cent mark reckoned to be needed for Conservative leader Mr Cameron to have a working majority in the Commons.

If the poll’s figures were repeated in a General Election, they would leave a hung Parliament with the Liberal Democrats – up four points on 22 per cent – holding the balance of power.

The survey also found high support at 15 per cent for “other parties”, including the Greens, UKIP, the anti-immigration BNP and the Greens.

In another sign that many voters are sick of the mainstream parties, the poll found that just 17 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds were “absolutely certain” to vote, with almost twice as many – 30 per cent – saying they were certain not to vote.

The survey, conducted by CommunicateResearch for The Independent newspaper, was carried out between Friday and Sunday, shortly after Scotland Yard said it had finished its inquiry in the cash for peerages scandal.

Mr Brown – who is not thought to be involved in the investigations into secret loans and the sale of honours – is likely to be concerned that the polls could get even worse if he becomes Prime Minister.

The Chancellor’s enemies inside Labour accused him of using “made up figures” to claim greater support inside the party. The Brown campaign had said 217 MPs had pledged their support to the Chancellor. But aides of leadership contender Michael Meacher said his supporters had not been asked.

Meanwhile, David Miliband, 41, said he had not even come close to launching a bid to challenge Mr Brown for the leadership. At the weekend the Environment Secretary sought to end speculation by announcing he would be voting for Mr Brown to be the next leader.

He said Mr Brown was the “obvious person’’ to take over at Number 10 and deserved to lead “across a wider canvas’’ after 10 successful years as Chancellor.

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