Tories take lead in Crewe

An opinion poll has suggested that Labour could lose the seat of Crewe and Nantwich in the by-election on May 22.

The ICM survey for the Mail on Sunday carried out in the constituency put the Conservatives on 43 per cent, with Labour on 39 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on 16 per cent.

According to the newspaper, the figures represent a 10 per cent swing to the Tories since the 2005 general election.

In a national poll, some 49 per cent said they would vote Tory, 33 per cent Labour and 15 per cent Lib Dem.

The by-election follows the death of veteran Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody last month.

The news comes as a survey for the Observer found that only one-in-five voters think Gordon Brown is doing a good job as prime minister.

Tory leader David Cameron scored better than Brown on key leadership qualities, including competence, decisiveness, fairness, likeability, trustworthiness and strength.

Brown's overall satisfaction rating dropped to minus 55 per cent, with 43 per cent saying that Cameron would make the best prime minister.