Blair losing grip, say voters

Nearly two thirds of voters think Tony Blair is "losing his grip", says a poll today.

Even 43 per cent of Labour supporters share this bleak view of the Prime Minister.

Fewer than one in three of those questioned in the MORI survey were satisfied with Mr Blair, with 61 per cent dissatisfied.

The poll, in the Financial Times, also shows gloom over public services, despite promises that schools, hospitals and transport will get better. The number believing the NHS is going downhill is 10 per cent greater than those who believe it will improve.

The so-called "improvement balance" is still worse for transport, at minus 16, and on education the net balance has collapsed from plus 12 in March to minus one.

But there are problems for the Tories: only 21 per cent of voters believe leader Iain Duncan Smith is doing a good job.