Brown behind Cameron in poll

A new poll makes grim reading for Gordon Brown, with the chancellor trailing David Cameron on all but one key measure.

The ICM survey for Friday's Guardian newspaper finds the likely next Labour leader is less popular than his expected opponent at the next general election and seen as less honest.

The Conservative leader is found to have "most potential as a prime minister" by 35 to 32 per cent, be "more able to work with cabinet colleagues" by 39 to 22 per cent, more "likely to take Britain in the right direction" by 31 to 26 per cent and "likely to have the more pleasant personality" by 52 to 17 per cent.

Cameron is also felt to be more honest by 27 to 19 per cent and have more enthusiasm for the job of prime minister by 37 to 25 per cent.

Brown leads Cameron on perceptions of arrogance by 36 to 15 per cent and of who is "most likely to stab a colleague in the back" by 35 to 12 per cent.

However the chancellor is thought to be more "likely to make the right decisions when the going gets tough", by 32 to 25 per cent.

Ahead of the party's annual conference, Labour continues to trail the Tories on voting intentions by 32 to 36 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats on 22 points.

Support for Labour drops by one point under Brown when compared to Tony Blair.

And the public's view of the government remains stuck in a rut, with around two thirds of voters agreeing it has run out of steam, is more divided than the Conservatives and does not deserve to win the next election.