A YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph newspaper has found public backing for the major political parties virtually neck and neck.

36 per cent of interviewees said they supported the Conservatives, one point behind Labour on 37.

This gain in popularity for the Conservatives builds on their victories in May’s local elections.

According to the Telegraph, the poll gave the Tories their best place for nearly 11 years.

YouGov saw Labour’s support fall three points from the previous month, but the Tories rose four per cent from 32 to 36.

The Liberal Democrats were down one point on April, from 21 to 20 percent.

Although down five per cent on April, Labour will take heart from the fact that Tony Blair remained head-and-shoulders above his opposition rivals in terms of being the most admired and trusted leader, capturing 38 per cent of votes.

The initially much lampooned Iain Duncan Smith, leader of the Conservatives, has improved his image somewhat in recent weeks and this is reflected in the poll.

19 per cent of YouGov respondents said they believed he would be a better prime minister than Lib Dems leader Charles Kennedy, who received 15 per cent of the vote.