Labour Halves Tory Lead In Opinion Poll

As Gordon Brown prepares to meet Wall Street traders at the heart of America's troubled financial institutions, he can reconcile with some less gloomy news - a 10-point jump in the opinion polls back home.

The Prime Minister's address to the Labour party conference, earlier this week, appears to have halved the Conservatives' lead in a new YouGov survey.

The opposition was ahead of the ruling party by a record 20-points last week.

Today, a YouGov poll, commissioned by The Sun, showed the Labour party stood at 31 points - a 10 point gain on the previous gap.

However, the Tory's current lead would still give them a majority in Parliament should an election be called - unlikely as that is.

But Mr Brown will be encouraged that the gap between the two main parties is narrowing, following a series of slumps in voters' confidence - which could have proved detrimental to Labour's tenure in government.

Fears over growing electorate discontentment prompted a 'mini-rebellion' among Labour MPs, who have called for a leadership challenge.

Many commentators have suggested the PM's well-received conference speech on Tuesday has 'bought him some time' with the party faithful.

This has been supported by the latest YouGov poll's findings, which suggested Mr Brown's personal approval rating grew from 29% to 39%.

Some solace for the PM who is expected to hold talks with jittery Wall Street fund managers later today, to discuss the protection of savings and pensions amid a global economic crisis.

Mr Brown has backed President George Bush's radical rescue proposals for the US economy, following a summit with fellow world leaders, where he made the case for stricter regulation of the global financial markets.

While in New York the PM is also expected to attend a UN summit on world poverty and disease.

(PR/JM)