10% swing to Tories

The Tories are poised to achieve their first parliamentary by-election gain since the heyday of Margaret Thatcher, dealing a hammer blow to Gordon Brown's hopes of survival.

That is the remarkable finding of the first opinion poll conducted in the Labour stronghold of Crewe, where a by-election to be held in 11 days' time could seal the Prime Minister's fate.

The ICM survey for The Mail on Sunday puts the Tories on 43 per cent with Labour trailing on 39 – a dramatic ten per cent swing in the Cheshire constituency since the last General Election.

The Liberal Democrats are on 16 per cent.

It would turn Labour's 7,078 majority into a Conservative majority of well over 1,000 – a convincing and historic victory.

If repeated in a General Election, Labour would be thrown out of power.

Daily Mail