Labour leadership irrelevant, poll suggests
Labour MPs tempted to replace Gordon Brown with an alternative leader might be deterred by the results of a new poll out today.
The latest Guardian/ICM poll maintains the 15-point Conservative advantage over Labour, with both parties up one point to 44 and 29 per cent respectively.
It also gives Tory leader David Cameron a clear lead over Mr Brown in the popularity stakes. Forty-two per cent of those polled said they thought Mr Cameron would make the better prime minister, compared to 21 per cent for Mr Brown.
Foreign secretary David Miliband, who surprised many with his barely-hidden leadership ambitions two weeks ago, would do worse: in a head-to-head between him and Mr Cameron he scored just 19 per cent, compared to the Tory leader’s 40 per cent.
Today’s figures follow previous polls which have given similar discouragement to those hoping a change of Labour leadership might reinvigorate the party’s prospects.
But the ICM stats underline the differences between Mr Brown and his foreign secretary. Mr Miliband wins the future visionary and “more on my wavelength” stakes. The prime minister is viewed as being more competent and trustworthy.
Ultimately, however, neither do well against Mr Cameron. Were the results of the voting intention poll to be translated into seats in the House of Commons they would give the Conservatives a majority of well over 100 seats.
The parties face their next electoral test in the Glenrothes by-election, which must take place by mid-November at the latest.
