One-Third Of Voters May Yet Change Their Mind

According to Mori's final poll for the FT, Labour has a 39 per cent share of the vote among those absolutely certain to cast a ballot on Thursday, 10 points ahead of the Conservatives, with Britain's third party - the Liberal Democrats - on 22 per cent. If this were replicated on polling day, Labour would have a majority in the House of Commons of 146 seats, assuming a national uniform swing, slightly down on the current margin.

Labour's 10-point lead marks a big increase on the lead of just two points which the party enjoyed in Mori's last survey for the FT published six days ago.

The huge increase in the lead could be the result of a highly aggressive stance which the Tories adopted against Tony Blair, the prime minister, in the middle of last week. Some Conservatives last night suggested that the tactic by Michael Howard, the Conservative leader, of branding Mr Blair a "liar" over the Iraq war had backfired badly. - FT