BRITAIN: Tory leader Mr Michael Howard's hopes of using this week's party conference in Bournemouth to build momentum for the British general election were dealt a blow last night with a poll suggesting the Conservatives are less popular now than they were under the leadership of his predecessor Mr Iain Duncan Smith at the same point last year.
Mr Duncan Smith was ousted as leader last November following a fractious conference dominated by speculation over his future amid concern that the party was stuck at about 30-33 per cent in the polls.
But a survey for tomorrow's London Times puts the Tories on just 28 per cent - seven points behind Labour (up three points on 35 per cent) and only three ahead of the Liberal Democrats (down one on 25 per cent).
There are signs Mr Howard's moderate stance on Europe is costing the Tories support. The poll puts the UK Independence Party - who knocked the Conservatives into fourth place at last week's Hartlepool by-election - up three points on 5 per cent.
And over two thirds of Tory supporters questioned said they would like Mr Howard to be tougher on Europe by offering a referendum on EU membership.
The result of the Populus poll is the equal worst for Tories in Mr Howard's year in charge.
His own rating as leader was down for the fourth month running and lower than that recorded by Mr Duncan Smith in his final days in the job.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair enjoys his highest personal rating since the end of major combat operations in Iraq in May last year. Despite his announcement last week that he will quit before the end of a third term in office, around half of those questioned said Mr Blair was a lame duck prime minister. However, more than half said he should leave either now or soon after the next election.