New surveys have suggested that voter apathy may badly effect Labour's vote in the forthcoming election.

An Office for National Statistics survey has found tens of thousands of potential voters have failed to register their right to vote in time for an expected May 5 general election.

Labour-held seats are disproportionately effected by the vanishing voters according to government figures and a report by MPs.

Across the country there has been a drop in voter registration, compared to 2001 when Labour was returned with a second landslide.

The findings, compiled from returns by electoral registration officials, are backed by a report by two parliamentary committees which says that registration is in "decline in all cases".

Meanwhile, Michael Howard has seen a rise this month in public satisfaction with his performance as Conservative leader, according to a MORI poll for the Financial Times.

MORI's March Political Monitor, however, fails to see any improvement in Tony Blair's personal ratings as the election approaches.

According to the survey, 31 per cent of people said they were satisfied with Howard's performance and 41 per cent dissatisfied. An improvement for the Tory leader on February, when 25 per cent of people said they were satisfied with him and 45 per cent dissatisfied.

The poll suggests Labour would have a strong lead over the Tories if everybody voted except the 10 per cent of the public who said they would not go to the polls, the 10 per cent who said they were undecided and the two per cent who refused to say how they would vote.

Under this scenario, there would be a 78 per cent turnout, with Labour on 39 per cent, the Tories on 33 and the Liberal Democrats on 21.

However, Labour and the Tories are both on 37 per cent among those who say they will definitely vote.