Michael Howard's immigration strategy is resulting in more reluctant Labour voters backing their party than recruiting new Tory voters, according to an ICM poll in the Guardian.

The survey shows that the first phase of the election campaign has left Labour up two points on 39 per cent of the vote and the Conservatives down a point on 33 per cent.

And the findings suggest that Howard's hard line stance on asylum and immigration  is putting off more voters than it is attracting.

The Conservative lead on the issue has fallen from 13 points to 10 over the last week.

The Guardian also reports that another Conservative candidate has come under fire for the tone of his election campaign, focussing on immigration policy.

Bob Spink, who is defending a 985 majority in Castle Point, Essex, placed an advertisement in his local newspaper which used the term "asylum cheats" and said: "What bit of 'send them back' don't you understand Mr Blair?"

The Tory leadership, which faced embarrassment earlier this week when a candidate doctored a photograph to comply with the party's hard line on immigration, last night faced calls to condemn Spink.