(AFP) – Sep 19, 2007

LONDON (AFP) — Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party has widened its opinion poll lead over the Conservatives, according to an opinion poll released Wednesday.

The ICM poll for The Guardian showed that Tory leader David Cameron was the least popular party chief while Brown was the most popular among voters.

Backing for Labour rose one percentage point from a similar survey last month to 40 percent, while the Tories fell two points to 32 percent -- the eight-point advantage is the biggest recorded by ICM since Cameron became Tory leader in December 2005.

The Liberal Democrats rose two points to 20 percent.

The poll's results come during the thick of the political party conference season -- the Lib Dem conference is currently ongoing, while Labour's kicks off September 23, and the Tories' starts on September 30.

Some 37 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with Cameron's performance as Tory leader, compared to 45 percent who were dissatisfied, a net rating of minus-eight.

By comparison, Lib Dem leader Menzies Campbell had a minus-five rating, while Brown had a satisfaction rating of plus-32.

ICM questioned 1,005 adults by telephone between September 13 and 16.

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