Britain's ruling Labour could remain the largest party in parliament after an election due in months, a poll showed today, the latest blow to the opposition Conservatives who were long favourites to win.
Conservative leader David Cameron, who makes a speech to activists today, said his party had a real fight on its hands as it seeks to end 13 years in the political wilderness.
Mr Cameron is expected to tell delegates the Conservatives have a patriotic duty to win the election because they have to sort out the "complete and utter mess" the country is in, a party source said.
The Sunday Times/YouGov poll put support for the Conservatives at 37 per cent, while Labour was on 35 per cent and the Liberal Democrats were on 17 per cent.
But under Britain's first-past-the-post, constituency system, that share of the vote could translate into 317 seats for Labour in the 650-member parliament and give the Conservatives only 263, the Sunday Times reported. That would enable prime minister Gordon Brown to head a minority government, seeking support from small parties to get legislation through parliament.
The prospect of an inconclusive election is sending jitters through financial markets which want to see decisive action to cut a budget deficit of more than 12 percent of GDP.
"I've always believed this election would be close," Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I've always believed it would be a real contest and a real choice between Gordon Brown and me and between Labour and Conservatives and I've always thought we'd have a real fight on our hands and we have."
Cameron said Britons are disillusioned with politicians after an expenses scandal that tarnished all the main parties.
The Conservative lead was in double figures late last year but has been narrowing in recent surveys which point increasingly to a hung parliament in which no party wins an outright majority. The latest poll indicates that allegations in a book that Mr Brown intimidated staff have had no adverse impact on Labour's ratings. Mr Brown has denied the claims.
Labour, expected to call an election on May 6th, was delighted with the latest poll.
"It's part of a trend. It shows people more and more questioning David Cameron and more and more suspicious and fearful of the Conservatives as we come up to the election," Welsh secretary Peter Hain told BBC TV. "People are really fearful of this almost relish for deep and savage (spending) cuts."
Reuters