The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, London

The Conservative Party has opened up its biggest opinion poll lead over the ruling Labour in 21 years, a survey indicated Thursday, just a week before Prime Minister Gordon Brown faces key local elections. The YouGov/Daily Telegraph poll, published on the newspaper's website, suggested the Conservatives now have an 18-point lead over the governing Labour Party-a margin unseen since October 1987 when Margaret Thatcher was in power, according to the pollster.

It makes painful reading for the government, which is expected to do poorly in local council elections on May 1, and which is embroiled in a tight battle in the London Mayoral race.

The Conservatives' 44 percent rating would give the centre-right party a 50-seat majority in parliament if the results were replicated at a general election, not due until May 2010 at the latest.

Labour, which currently holds a 67-seat advantage in the House of Commons, was on 26 percent with the smaller opposition Liberal Democrats on 17 percent.