The poll this month is one amongst several showing a small Conservative lead. It is not clear what might have caused this move. Most likely it was, as suggested last month, in reaction to Cameron's clumsy foray into Europe. Some perhaps took it as a symbol of strong government.

Also this month there has been the efforts of Ed Balls and Ed Miliband to claim that they too would take tough action to reduce any remaining deficit. This came over as a rather clumsy way of reacting to Conservative criticisms, and it offended some unions as an undertaking that a Labour government would continue with rigid wage restraints.

This exchange of arguments on Conservative home subject territory was perhaps not very wise. At least they could have implied that some increase in income tax would relieve the present emphasis on cutting allowances which hurt the poorest.

So it has not been a good month for Labour. They would have done better to point out the wastefulness of Conservative policies - last year it was in the reason of £20,000 million - a lot of money.

Clegg has been busy trying to differentiate himself from the Tories - thus far with little apparent success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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