The latest poll has delivered disappointing results for Tony Blair and Michael Howard.

However, Charles Kennedy has reason to celebrate as the Liberal Democrats have achieved parity of popularity with the Tories at this point in the political cycle.

In a further vote of confidence in his leadership, more people also believe Kennedy would make a better alternative to Blair than Michael Howard.

However, neither would be as popular as Gordon Brown as a replacement for the current prime minister.

The Populus poll in the News of the World showed that 30 per cent of voters intend to stick with Labour at the next election, while the Liberal Democrats are level with the Conservatives on 28 per cent.

Other parties polled an unusually high 14 per cent in the survey.

In a blow to Blair's hopes of leaving a positive prime ministerial legacy, only five per cent of respondents believed he would be remembered as a great leader.

However, 32 per cent think he has been a good prime minister overall. In a further boost, even those who say he has not been a good prime minister would prefer him to any other party leader.

Despite their dissatisfaction with Blair's performance, only 26 per cent would like to see him replaced by Michael Howard.

Respondents were asked to rate Blair's policy achievements out of 10. He was awarded an average of 4.2 for transport and 4.4 for foreign policy.

His highest score was on his handling of the economy, where he averaged 5.8.

However, it is Howard who will be most alarmed by the poll, which comes on top of a poor set of results at by-elections in Leicester and Birmingham.