Parties neck and neck in the polls

Public support for Labour and the Tories is neck and neck, according to new research.

A poll by market research company Opinium suggested that the Conservatives have lost their seven-point lead from a fortnight ago, while the opposition has gained three points.

The survey of more than 2,000 adults in the UK last week also found an increase in approval of Jeremy Corbyn’s Brexit response.

But 48% of those surveyed believed Theresa May’s deal was bad – up by 3% from two weeks ago.

And in a further blow to the prime minister, outright opposition to the deal from people who voted for the Conservatives in 2017 has increased from 19% at the beginning of the month to 24%.

The research suggested the Great British public were becoming increasingly disillusioned with the two parties, with 41% thinking Labour and the Tories have become “extreme”. Two-fifths of those polled said a new political party would be the best way for them to be represented, according to the survey.

Adam Drummond, head of political polling at Opinium, said: “In recent weeks we saw the Conservatives taking a clear lead in the polls, partially in response to some of the first good news the government has had in months. However, with every step forwards, there always appears to be another one backwards.”