Labour extends poll lead as Lib Dems' Support falls

Labour has extended its lead over the Conservatives at the expense of the Liberal Democrats, a new opinion poll revealed today.

The Rasmussen Research survey in the British Independent puts Labour up one point on 45%, the Tories unchanged on 32% and the Liberal Democrats down one on 16%.

William Hague’s warnings on the dangers of a Labour landslide seem to have fallen on deaf ears with 52% of people saying they would prefer the next Government to enjoy a large majority and only 46% who would want a small one.

Despite dropping a point, the Liberal Democrats will be cheered by news that Charles Kennedy has ‘‘won’’ the leaders’ contest with 37% saying their impression of him had gone up and 16% saying that it had gone down over the campaign.

This compares with 34% of the 1,200 voters surveyed claiming their impression of Mr Hague is worse with 22% saying it had improved.

Tony Blair fares little better: 31% say their view of the Prime Minister has gone down and 23% that it has gone up.