The Conservatives now have a record poll lead over Labour and would stretch it even farther if they were facing Gordon Brown or David Miliband. A Populus poll for The Times, taken last weekend, shows that Labour support has fallen this year and the Tories are eight points ahead — equalling the widest gap recorded by Populus.
But, while nonLabour voters are attracted by the idea of a younger alternative to Mr Brown, many voters know nothing about Mr Miliband, the Environment Secretary. The poll suggests that he would do no better than the Chancellor against Mr Cameron’s Tories. Labour led by either of them would lag far behind the Conservatives.
Mr Miliband sought to dampen leadership speculation again yesterday. In an interview with