Poll shows fall in Labour lead

(First Edition)

A WARNING by Tony Blair, the Labour leader, to the Shadow Cabinet today not to be complacent will be underpinned by a new opinion poll showing a hefty fall in the party's lead. An ICM/Guardian poll shows that Labour's 'adjusted' lead has fallen from 21 per cent to 12 per cent since August.

The new figures show the Conservatives up five points at 33 per cent, Labour at 45, and the Liberal Democrats at 18. The adjustments are made to allow for the relative reluctance of Tories to take part in polls, and to state their allegiance when they do.