Tories enter hung parliament territory in latest poll

The Conservatives' lead over Labour is back in single figures, a poll out today shows.

Figures from ComRes published in the Independent newspaper put the Tories on 38 per cent, eight points ahead of Gordon Brown's Labour.

While Labour are unchanged the Conservatives have dropped three per cent on December's figures, however, while the Liberal Democrats advance one point to 17 per cent.

The poll was taken at the weekend and appears to verify a YouGov survey in the Daily Telegraph from last week which saw David Cameron's party slip four points to a lead of eight per cent.

Between the two surveys came news of Peter Hain's resignation over alleged improprieties relating to funding for his failed Labour deputy leadership campaign.

This appears to have had little impact on voters' perceptions despite the Northern Rock saga, the impending economic downturn and high-profile data security breaches.

According to today's survey the eight-point lead would not be sufficient to win Mr Cameron a majority, however.

ComRes says a hung parliament would be required with the Tories 15 seats short of an overall majority.

The Conservatives hold most of the country but are tied in the north of England, Labour's traditional heartland.

Only in Scotland are the Tories losing to Labour but the impact of this advantage is diminished because of the Scottish National party's prominence.

Labour are seen struggling in the top AB social grouping, winning just 26 per cent of their support compared to 47 per cent for the Conservatives.

The contest is closer among skilled manual workers, where the Tories' lead is just one point.