The Tories have raced ahead in the English polls, opening up their biggest lead since the 1980s.

A survey by YouGov puts the Conservatives on 43 per cent, eleven points up on Labour on 32 per cent. The Liberal Democrats trail on 14 per cent.

The Conservative Party haven't enjoyed a lead of similar proportions since 1988, when Thatcher was in power.

As recently as September, Labour led by eleven points.

The poll results represent another blow for Brown, as Labour faces a criminal inquiry into proxy donations, the fallout from the Northern Rock crisis, the loss of CDs combining the personal data of 25 million parents and attacks from the Army over the Government's lack of support for the Armed Forces.