Tories surge ahead in opinion poll

Updated 20.11 Thu Nov 22 2007

Keywords: Labour, Conservatives

The Conservatives have surged to a nine-point lead in the first opinion poll conducted since the missing discs scandal broke.

A YouGov survey for Channel 4 News put the Tories in one of their best positions for 15 years on 41 per cent - less than two months since the same poll had Labour 11 points in front.

A YouGov survey for Channel 4 News put the Tories in one of their best positions for 15 years on 41 per cent

The Tories are up five points on the last poll for Channel 4 News in early October - two days before Mr Brown ruled out an early general election.

Labour have dropped a massive eight points since then to 32 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats enjoying a one-point boost to 14 per cent after ditching Sir Menzies Campbell as leader.

Voter intentions were gauged following the revelations that the personal details of 25 million people had been lost by HM Revenue and Customs.

Of those surveyed, 81 per cent pinned the blame on the junior official who put the CDs in the post, while 77 per cent pointed the finger at former HMRC boss Paul Gray, who resigned over the debacle.

More than half considered Chancellor Alistair Darling should share some of the responsibility, while 49 per cent said the same of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.