Labour faces local polls defeat

Labour MPs are braced for heavy losses in the summer local elections which would further weaken Gordon Brown's grip on power.

Polls today put Labour on 29 per cent, the Conservatives on 43 and the Liberal Democrats on 17. Labour fell below 30 per cent for the first time since September, which suggests David Cameron could get into Downing Street with a Commons majority of 92.

Labour's slide in popularity has coincided with the recession deepening and experts say Mr Brown will need an upturn in economic fortunes to win a general election in spring 2010.

Aides to Commons Leader Harriet Harman today denied a report that she and local government minister John Healey were downbeat about June's local polls at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

MPs were reportedly told that Labour could lose control of its four county councils.