UKIP erodes Howard's appeal

Tory hopes of slashing Tony Blair's majority at the next election today looked doubtful after a fresh opinion poll showed voters were increasingly unhappy with Michael Howard.

The continuing support for the UK Independence Party was another factor as the Populus poll for The Times put Labour ahead on 33 per cent, Conservatives on 29 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on 24 per cent.

The rising backing for the Lib-Dems will give the party a huge boost ahead of the Leicester South and Birmingham Hodge Hill by-elections next week.

UKIP's support is continuing to erode the Tory party's ratings, rising from five to six per cent since last month and up from its single percentage point before the European election campaign. Mr Howard's appeal to voters is waning with every month. In a surprise finding, Mr Blair is favoured over Gordon Brown among Labour voters.