Ed Miliband hits new low as YouGov survey indicates he is now less popular than Nick Clegg

Miliband's approval rating stands at -55, one point lower than the Lib Dem leader

Ed Miliband was quoted as saying four fifths of new private sector posts since 2010 were in the capital (Getty Images)

The approval rating of Labour leader Ed Miliband has fallen to its lowest ever point, after a new poll indicated he was less popular than Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg.

According to a YouGov poll for the Sunday Times, more people think Miliband is doing 'badly' as leader of his party than either Lib Dem leader Clegg or PM David Cameron.

Only 18 per cent of those surveyed said Miliband is doing well, the same number as those who approved of Clegg's performance.

But Miliband's disapproval rating is one point lower than the Deputy Prime Minister, at 73 per cent.

David Cameron stands head and shoulders above his fellow party leaders, with 40 per cent saying he's doing 'well' and 54 per cent saying he's doing 'badly'.

This survey, in which 1808 people took part, will reinforce the belief that Ed Miliband is a hindrance to his party, which is otherwise more popular than the Conservatives - 32 per cent to 31.

Only half of Labour voters think Miliband is doing a good job, whereas 97 per cent of Tories back Cameron and 71 per cent of Lib Dems support Clegg.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has backed Miliband in spite of his failure to connect with voters.

She told Sky News: "I think the work he has done has been really important over the last few years, holding the party together after the last general election, but also building up the policies we have been calling for.

"On dealing with the cost of living crisis, on what more we need to do to support the National Health Service, on immigration."

Shadow Communities Secretary Hilary Benn has also hit out at claims that Labour has been "lumbered with a loser".

He told BBC1's Sunday Politics show: "People who are attacking Ed Miliband - newspapers and others who do not want Labour to win the next election - they are trying to attack his personality and they are trying to attack the party and to attack him and it is going to be a tough fight."

This poor showing caps a bad week for the Labour party in which an Ipsos Mori poll found a huge upswing in Scotland for the Scottish National Party at the expense of Labour.

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The STV survey indicated that if the election were held today, SNP would win 54 seats and Labour only four.

To win next year's general election, Labour is counting on a strong showing in Scotland.

In fact, this latest YouGov poll reinforces Labour's problems in Scotland, where Miliband's approval rating is even lower than in England - it stands at -65.

Additional reporting by PA