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Tory poll lead reaches 1987 heights

20/05/2008

The latest Guardian/ICM poll suggests support for the government has collapsed in recent weeks, with David Cameron's Conservatives dramatically improving their poll performance.

It puts Labour down seven per cent to 27 per cent in May, compared to a two-point bump for the Tories to 41 per cent.

The Liberal Democrats are up three per cent to 22 per cent, while others remain unchanged on nine per cent.

Today's swing gives the Conservatives a 14-point lead over Labour.

Most analysts put the blame on Gordon Brown's management of the 10p income tax changes, which ended with the prime minister handing taxpayers £2.7 billion in compensation. The move does not appear to have bought him popularity.

May 1st's local elections, in which the Conservatives gained 256 council seats and won control of 12 councils and London, may also have had an impact.

There is a further electoral test for the government on Thursday, when the Crewe and Nantwich by-election takes place.

Labour stalwart Gwyneth Dunwoody's daughter is hoping to cling on to her late mother's 7,078 majority but a class-ridden campaign has seen the Tories pose a growing threat.

A ComRes poll for the Independent puts the Conservatives on 48 per cent and Labour on 35 per cent. The Liberal Democrats are on 12 per cent with other parties on five per cent.