Tories 15-yr high

THE TORIES have built their strongest lead over Labour for 15 years in the wake of the David Abrahams donor scandal.

An exclusive News of the World ICM poll today reveals the Conservatives would win a clear 29-seat overall majority in an election— that's bigger than John Major's in the last Tory government.

ICM puts the Conservatives on 41 per cent, Labour on 30 per cent and the Lib Dems on 19 per cent.

Labour have slumped by five per cent in a month, the Tories are up one and the Lib Dems are also up one.

It is the first poll taken since the Abrahams scandal broke and, worryingly for the government, shows the Tories are now building a dominant lead over Gordon Brown.

The poll also shows how far Labour have fallen since September.

A quarter of their supporters have deserted them (40 per cent to 30 per cent), while the Tories have gone up nine points.

ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,011 adults aged 18 and over by telephone between November 28 and 29, 2007.

Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.