Support for Britain's governing Labour Party has slipped back to a 19-year low after weeks of bad news on the domestic front, a poll published today showed.
The ICM survey for the Guardianput Labour's support at 32 per cent, five percentage points behind the Conservatives and two points down from the last poll in May.
The Conservatives were down one point on 37 per cent, and the Liberal Democrats were up one point at 21 per cent, according to ICM.
Support for Labour first slipped to 32 per cent in April - the lowest point since 1987, when the party suffered a heavy defeat to the Conservatives under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher - but had recovered slightly in May.
Since then, Prime Minister Tony Blair has faced a barrage of negative headlines, mostly linked to the handling of the immigration and prison services.
The prime minister sacked Home Secretary Charles Clarke following poor local election results on May 4th and replaced him with former defence minister John Reid.
Mr Blair has said he will not stand for re-election and is widely expected to be succeeded by Chancellor Gordon Brown.
However, he has insisted he will serve a full term and has refused to set a date for his departure.