Labour increases poll lead over Tories

Labour has increased its lead over the Tories to 19 points, according to the latest opinion poll.

Labour has increased its lead over the Tories to 19 points, according to the latest opinion poll.

The survey in tomorrow's Sunday Timesputs Labour two points up on a week ago.

This comes despite the party's manifesto launch being overshadowed by Mr John Prescott punching a protester and Mr Tony Blair being confronted over the NHS.

Labour support has remained unchanged at 49 per cent compared with a week ago, while the Conservatives' rating dropped two points to 30 per cent and the Liberal Democrats were up one point on 14 per cent, according to the NOP poll.

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Mr Prescott wins overwhelming backing for his behaviour in Rhyl, North Wales, on Wednesday night when he landed a left jab on Mr Craig Evans, 29, who had thrown an egg at him from close range.

Asked if he was fit to be Deputy Prime Minister, 58 per cent said he was, with only 35 per cent replying no.

The poll shows Labour still on course to repeat its landslide 1997 win and is consistent with all the surveys published since campaigning began.

Tory strategists will now be searching for any chink in Labour's armour to prevent June 7th turning into a rout which would almost certainly spark a Tory leadership contest.

PA