Half of voters 'want change with a Tory government'

Published on Sunday 23 December 2007 20:18

ALMOST half of voters believe it is "time for change" and that the Conservatives should form the next government, according to a poll released last night.

The ComRes survey also found a majority of people think David Cameron, the Tory leader, would make a better prime minister than Gordon Brown.

However, the poll gives some comfort to Labour, providing further evidence that they are slowly closing the Tories' overall poll lead, despite continued difficulties for the government. While Tory support stands at 41 per cent, up one since last month, Labour's is up three to 30 per cent, narrowing the gap from 13 points to 11. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are down two to 16 per cent.

The trend is similar to that in an ICM survey published last week, which showed the gap between the main two parties had closed from six to five percentage points.

The ComRes figures, if repeated in a general election, would give the Tories a Commons majority of about 46.

The poll also indicates a groundswell of support for a change of administration, with 48 per cent agreeing "it's time for change and the next government should be a Conservative one".