London: Worsening situation in Iraq and declining public trust in British Prime Minister Tony Blair is dragging down wider public support for Labour, a Guardian/ICM poll indicated yesterday (Jan 23, 2007).

It shows that the Conservatives have secured a lead in policy areas that once helped Blair win three commanding general election victories.

The poll underlines the scale of the job facing Chancellor Gordon Brown if he is to renew support to win a fourth general election.

Overall, the Conservative party has a six-point lead among people who say they are likely to vote at the next general election, a slight narrowing of the gap over the last month.

The Tories are on 37 per cent, down three points on last month's Guardian/ICM poll, with Labour on 31 per cent do wn one. The Liberal Democrats will be relieved by their rise to 23 per cent, an increase of five points from last month's unusually low score.

On nine key issues that shape the way people vote, Labour now has a lead in only three. The political map of Britain has been reshaped since 2005, with the Tories now ahead as the party with the best policies in such former Labour stronghold areas as education, tax and public services.

Labour leads only on the fight against terrorism, the economy and health.

Labour has a one-point lead as the party with the best policy on the National Health Service in contrast to a Guardian/ICM