Poll: Howard is neck and neck with Blair

Labour was reeling today from a new poll which claimed Tony Blair has turned into a vote-loser with the public.

It suggested Mr Blair was beset by plummeting ratings for trust and competence while Opposition leader Michael Howard had caught up as the man seen as the best prime minister.

The startling findings came as the parties went into the most crucial battle before the next general election, launching rival campaigns for the local council polls on 10 June.

They followed a disastrous month for the Government, with questions over Mr Blair's future and squabbles over immigration, ID cards and Iraq.

Almost one third - 29 per cent - of voters said Mr Howard would make the best prime minister - exactly the same figure as for Mr Blair and the highest rating for any Conservative since Labour took power in 1997.

The YouGov poll, in The Daily Telegraph, gave the Conservatives a clear lead, on 39 per cent compared with Labour's 35 per cent and 19 per cent for the Liberal Democrats. That would be enough to put Mr Howard in No10 if mirrored at a general election.

The fall in the Prime Minister's personal ratings will set the alarm bells ringing loudest at Labour headquarters. Mr Blair was rated minus 39 per cent for trustworthiness, compared with the plus 37 per cent rating he enjoyed in 1997. He was also seen as uncaring, indecisive, ineffective and a poor listener. But Mr Blair is still seen as the most likeable party leader, with a plus 17 per cent rating.

Labour strategists shrugged off the survey's findings, pointing out that Margaret Thatcher consistently drew negative poll ratings yet won three general election victories. Moreover, YouGov surveys tend to award lower ratings to Labour than many other polls.

The Conservatives were pointing to the survey as a triumph for Mr Howard after just six months in charge. On the crucial economic issue, more than a third - 34 per cent - said the Tories were the best party to lead Britain out of difficulties, compared with 31 per cent for Labour.

Mr Blair was today making a big show of unity with Gordon Brown after a weekend of continued infighting over the Government's future.

The pair were launching the local government election campaign together in Leeds. Earlier they issued a rare joint statement to quell claims they were at loggerheads over the next election manifesto after a series

Mr Brown used an article in The Guardian to stress his closeness to Mr Blair and urge MPs to turn their guns on the Conservatives. "United as a party we must hold firm to our enduring Labour values," he urged.

"We must also be ruthless in setting out clear dividing lines between our government and the Conservatives."

The 10 June elections are being dubbed Super Thursday because the same day will see voters give their verdicts on town halls, the London Mayor and the European elections.

Labour was using the 25th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher becoming Prime Minister to warn voters not to let the Tories "wreck it again". A poster shows Mr Howard alongside images of Lady Thatcher, John Major and William Hague.

In Birmingham, Mr Howard was setting out plans to free local councils from Whitehall red tape.