Cameron boosts popularity over Brown

Tuesday, 20 March 2007 12:00 AM

Gordon Brown alienates Labour voters, while David Cameron's leadership continues to boost the Conservatives' appeal.

The latest ICM poll found a Brown-led Labour party would result in a 15 point lead for the Conservatives. Worryingly for the chancellor, support for Labour increases when his name is not mentioned.

If an election was called tomorrow, the Conservatives would poll 41 per cent, Labour 31 per cent and the Liberal Democrats 18 per cent, representing a gain of one point on last month for the Tories and slide of one for the Lib Dems.

However, when voters were asked to choose between Mr Cameron, Mr Brown and Sir Menzies Campbell, the Tories increased their share to 43 per cent, while Labour slipped to 28 per cent. Sir Menzies attracted 18 per cent of voters.

"To judge from the data, what you are left with is the fact that Cameron is an asset to his party and neither Brown nor Campbell are," Nick Sparrow, managing director of ICM, told the Guardian, which commissioned the poll.

The last time the Conservatives polled more than 40 per cent was during the summer following their election victory in 1992. However, Labour supporters will remember that it was Labour who dominated the opinion polls into the election, which the Conservatives went on to win.

The poll arrives as Mr Brown prepares to deliver Budget 2007 tomorrow, his 11th and likely final Budget.

Predictions as to the content of the budget have been overshadowed by an unprecedented critique of the chancellor from his former permanent secretary.

Lord Turnbull claimed Mr Brown ran the Treasury with a "Stalinist ruthlessness" and blocked serious discussions about priorities.

In an interview with the Financial Times, the former head of the civil service claimed Mr Brown had a "very cynical view of mankind and his colleagues" and treated Cabinet colleagues with contempt.

Tony Blair was among the government members defending Mr Brown this morning. Downing Street said the prime minister's admiration for the chancellor's record was well known.

There are good reasons for the rule that civil servants should not air their political views in public, the prime minister's official spokesman added.

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