Labour lead narrows during Olympic Games

Labour's lead over the Conservatives has narrowed by three points over the past month as satisfaction with the Government has improved during the London Olympics, according to a poll published today.

The Tories are up one on 32% and Labour down two on 42% among those saying they are certain to vote, the Ipsos Mori survey found. The Liberal Democrats are down one on 11%.

Labour's lead is still large enough to give leader Ed Miliband a comfortable majority in a general election.

But low levels of public satisfaction with all three main party leaders have experienced a notable bounce in what Ipsos Mori suggested was down to the Olympic feel-good factor.

The number of people satisfied with the way the Government is running the country has increased from 26% to 32% and with Prime Minister David Cameron personally from 33% to 39%.

Those satisfied with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg have increased from 26% to 31% and with Labour leader Ed Miliband from 33% to 41%.

All three party leaders have a net negative approval rating, however, with more people saying they are dissatisfied than satisfied with each of them.

And none of the main parties is judged by a majority of voters to put the national interest ahead of their own.

Some 69% think the Tories put their own interests first, 63% the Liberal Democrats and 59% the Labour Party.

Just over two-thirds of voters - 67% - think the coalition is disunited and 54% feel it is unlikely to last until 2015, as planned. Only 39% think it will go the distance until the scheduled next general election.

Ipsos Mori's head of political research, Gideon Skinner, said: "The party leaders and the Government are benefiting from an upbeat public mood generated by the Olympic Games.

"Even this, however, cannot overcome public scepticism that the Coalition is divided, and that all parties tend to put their own interest above the national interest. The question is whether this feel good factor will last."

:: Ipsos Mori interviewed a representative sample of 1,007 adults across Great Britain by telephone from August 11 to 13. Data were weighted to match the profile of the population.

PA