Poll boost for Labour

Labour's faltering election campaign received a much-needed boost today with a poll showing Gordon Brown's Budget had cemented his party's lead over the Conservatives.

The ICM survey for The Guardian put Labour on 40 points, up three from last month, the Tories down two points on 32 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on 20 per cent.

The findings will disappoint Conservative leader Michael Howard whose party has set the agenda over the past few weeks with a series of populist announcements on council tax, immigration and tackling illegal gipsy camps.

But the poll reveals that on the wider issues of health, education and the economy, most voters believe Labour still has the best policies. Mr Brown's Budget has also helped lift Labour's fortunes, particularly among the grey vote.

More than 30 per cent of pensioners say they are more likely to vote Labour as a result of the Budget in which the Chancellor offered a oneoff discount of £200 on council tax bills.

The Liberal Democrats remain consistent on 20 per cent, down one point on last month but still higher than their ratings before the 2001 general election.

Charles Kennedy today tried to force the Lib-Dems on to the centre of the election stage by launching the biggest poster campaign in the party's history. Under the slogan, the "Real Alternative", the £100,000 advertising campaign sets out 10 "good reasons" to vote Liberal Democrat.

These include scrapping tuition fees, free personal care for the elderly and axing ID cards. The posters also highlight the party's policies on the environment, tax, replacing council tax with a local income tax and health. There is also a pledge of "never again" on the Iraq war.

Party strategists hope the message will push the Liberal Democrats back on to the election agenda after weeks of traditional warring between Labour and the Conservatives.

One insider admitted the party needed to raise its profile. "Labour appear very good at publishing negative pictures of Michael Howard and the Tories do the same with Tony Blair. We are confident in publishing pictures of our own leader because we know Charles Kennedy is an asset. We want a positive campaign which tells people what we will do, rather than slagging off everyone else," he said.

Labour's Fraser Kemp, the party's campaign spokesman, said voting Liberal Democrat would only help the Conservatives gain seats.

"The choice at the next general election will be between going forward with Labour or returning to a failed Tory past.

"Whatever promises they make the one thing you can be sure of is that a vote for the Liberal Democrats would only help Michael Howard into No 10 through the back door."