Voters trust Conservatives with future of NHS

David Cameron has emerged from the row over the Tories' commitment to the NHS unscathed, as a new poll today reveals voters do not believe the health service would be safer under a Labour government.

A ComRes poll for The Independent on Sunday shows that the Conservatives have extended their lead over Labour by two percentage points since July.

The headline figures for voting intentions show the Tories on 41 per cent – three points up on a similar survey last month – while Labour has moved up one point to 24 per cent. A similar share of the vote at the next general election would deliver a Conservative majority of 124 seats.

The Liberal Democrats were on 18 per cent, four down on last month, while other parties stayed on 16.

The most encouraging result for Mr Cameron is the finding that less than two out of five voters believe Labour can be trusted most to look after the NHS. Only 39 per cent of people surveyed agreed with the suggestion that the NHS is safer with Labour, while 47 per cent disagreed.

The finding will be a blow for Gordon Brown, as the NHS is traditionally a major strength for Labour at election time. But the Prime Minister has failed to open up a lead on the issue after it produced one of the biggest crises of Mr Cameron's leadership.

He was forced to restate his party's commitment to a free healthcare system last week in an attempt to reclaim ground lost during the row over his MEP Daniel Hannan, who called the NHS a "60-year mistake".

However, the poll did not produce an overwhelming endorsement of Mr Cameron's policies, suggesting the party was failing to make headway in the critical area of economic recovery.

The survey also showed 60 per cent of people wanted British forces out of Afghanistan as quickly as possible, slightly down on last month. Almost two out of three support the establishment of a commission to curb excessive pay and bonuses.

Full tables at www.comres. co.uk.