Tories’ poll lead highest since Thatcher’s peak

BRITAIN’S Conservative Party yesterday established their strongest opinion-poll lead since the height of Margaret Thatcher’s reign 20 years ago, as embattled British Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced a police probe into a funding scandal in his Labour Party.

Divisions within the party also emerged as deputy leader Harriet Harman “absolutely” denied damaging Mr Brown’s reputation after her aides accepted £5,000 (€7,000) from a proxy donor acting on behalf of businessman David Abrahams.

Speaking in what has been politically the most bruising week for Mr Brown since taking over as premier in June, Ms Harman said the contact had been passed to her by Mr Brown’s team, declaring she had “complied with the letter and spirit of the law and I think Gordon Brown has done the same”.