Public turn against Blair

Tony Blair and Labour are now seen by most people as dishonest and sleazy, an opinion poll showed today.

Rows over spin and allegations of cash-for-favours appear to be turning the public against the Prime Minister and his Government, according to the online survey.

The findings emerged as Mr Blair prepared to hold the first in a series of televised press conferences at No 10, with the aim of putting his message directly to voters.

Tensions between the Government and the media were stepped up yesterday when Home Secretary David Blunkett claimed his critics in the Press were "almost on the edge of insanity". He later said the comment had been a joke.

Asked whether the Government was "honest and trustworthy", just 28 per cent of people said Yes while 64 per cent said No, in the study by internet pollsters YouGov for the Daily Telegraph. A year ago, Gallup found voters evenly split on the same question.

Mr Blair personally was seen as "very dishonest" or "somewhat dishonest" by 52 per cent of people-and as honest by just 45 per cent. His director of communications Alastair Campbell fared even worse, with 67 per cent judging him dishonest and only 20 per cent thinking him honest.

The public has sided with the press against No 10 on the question of whether Mr Blair's aides tried to secure him a bigger role at the Queen Mother's lying-in-state. The poll found that 53 per cent thought, despite official denials, that pressure had been brought to bear on Black Rod, Sir Michael Willcocks, the Parliamentary official responsible for the arrangements.

The findings suggest that Labour will have to fight to restore its reputation on the key issues of trust and integrity, after coming to power in 1997 on a promise of a fresh start after years of Tory sleaze rows. No 10 has been furious at the way newspapers and broadcasters have covered a series of damaging news stories - including the row over the Queen Mother's lying-in-state, and allegations that Labour donors such as steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and vaccines tycoon Paul Drayson had received favourable treatment from the Government.

Reporting of Cherie Blair's gaffe this week, when she appeared to sympathise with Palestinian suicide bombers, brought a further deterioration in relations between No 10 and the media.

Mr Blair is facing journalists after today's weekly Cabinet meeting. Downing Street originally said that the 45-minute press conference, to be held in the state dining room inside Downing Street, would be restricted to lobby correspondents and feature no opening statement by Mr Blair to dictate follow-up questions.

However, Mr Blair's official spokesman said the Prime Minister would now make an opening statement about the European Union leaders' summit in Seville, which starts tomorrow. Invitations have been restricted to 45 Westminster lobby correspondents, 25 foreign correspondents based in London, and 15 columnists and commentators.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "The Prime Minister will be speaking about Seville on the day before he goes and will also answer other questions.

"The purpose of it is the same as his appearance before a select committee, to allow more direct contact between the Prime Minister and the public., and one way of doing that is the press conferences."

A fully open press conference with Mr Blair is rare outside election campaigns, although he sometimes hosts them in relation to specific events.

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