Amicus chief Derek Simpson today insists that a change in the Labour leadership would not be the answer to unions' prayers.

He said the trade unions should focus on the policies rather than the man implementing them.

"Without a change of policy, there's no guarantee that with a different leader things would be different. They might possibly be even worse," he said.

This month's ICM poll for the Guardian makes grim reading for Downing Street.

According to the survey, the prime minister's personal rating slumped over the summer from minus 17 points in July to minus 29 points now.

However, a clear majority of the country - 57 per cent - still think he is a competent prime minister and only 48 per cent say that he lacks clear ideas.

The Guardian begins a three part series on the state of the Labour Party, saying that the first priority should be to win back the public's trust.