We don't want PM Brown, say voters

But Labour’s fortunes seem to have revived following Tony Blair’s  announcement that he is quitting next month, according to the YouGov survey.

Labour is now on 34 per cent of the vote, three up from last month and just four behind the Conservatives, who are one down on 38 per cent.

But support for Labour slips back down to 32 per cent under a Brown Premiership – 10 per cent behind the Tories, who rise to 42 per cent.

Half of those questioned in the online poll said that they did not like the Chancellor.

Mr Brown also faced Tory claims that he was spinning an announcement on housing policy, including setting up five new “eco-towns”, with some 100,000 low-carbon homes.

Labour’s National Executive Committee met in special session yesterday, with Tony Blair and John Prescott there for probably the last time, to agree a timetable for the leader and deputy leader elections.

Nominations open at 2.30pm today and close at 12.30pm on Thursday. All those nominated will be expected to attend a series of hustings being staged around the country.

A special conference in Manchester on Sunday, June 24, will reveal the results of the ballot of MPs and MEPs, affiliated union members and Labour members – including anyone who joins the party by June 1, after the normal cooling off period was waived.

Labour will then have a new leader and deputy but Mr Blair will remain Prime Minister until June 27, when he tenders his resignation to the Queen.

Mr Brown was last night taking part in a hustings debate in London with Left-wing MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell, who have both declared their intention to challenge him for the leadership.

Mr McDonnell said yesterday that he and Mr Meacher had between them more than enough nominations to mount one challenge.

Today they will decide which has the most and should run, with the other dropping out. But it was unclear whether either could muster the necessary support of 44 colleagues to enable them to stand.

The Deputy Leader contest could have six candidates, including Harriet Harman, Peter Hain, Hazel Blears, Alan Johnson and Hilary Benn.

Meanwhile, Mr Brown is going all out to present a warmer and more human side to voters. But tonight a TV programme is expected to feature stark personal criticism of him.

Former Minister Frank Field is said to have told Channel 4 Dispatches programme Gordon Brown, Fit For Office? that the Chancellor had once “rushed up and got hold of me and yelled’’ for disagreeing over the New Deal because

“I thought you were my friend”. Mr Field said that Mr Brown “divides the world between those who agree with him and are therefore his friends, and those who debate with him who aren’t.

“A number of us are deeply troubled about the sort of Premier he might make”.

Mr Field also accused Mr Brown of sulking during Cabinet discussions, while former ambassador to the EU Sir

Stephen Wall said Mr Brown would reply “about one in 10 times” if he said “Good morning, Chancellor”.

Former Inland Revenue chief Sir Nicholas Montague said he never saw the Chancellor during the “disastrous” problems which beset Mr Brown’s flagship tax credit scheme.

Asked on BBC1’s Sunday AM about headlines suggesting Mr Brown had lifted Mr Field up by his lapels, Mr Brown said: “This is not correct. “I think I am a conviction politician. I will tell people what I believe. I will argue my corner.”

But he added that his Government would “involve, engage and consult”.

Mr Brown set out a vision of a “home-owning, asset-owning, wealth-owning democracy’’,  stepping up the building of affordable homes to help first-time buyers.

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