Conservatives back on course for election victory

The Conservatives have stretched their lead over Labour to 11 per cent in the latest weekly Daily Express/Opinium survey. It is the first opinion poll this year to restore the Tories to a double-digit lead and is a leap of four per cent ­compared with last week.

It would put Mr Cameron on course for an outright Commons working ­majority, banishing fears of a hung ­parliament in the General Election, which is expected on May 6.

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The latest poll twist comes after the Tory leader last night sounded an optimistic rallying call.

In a marked shift away from warnings of “austerity”, Mr Cameron pledged that a Tory government would mean “more prosperity and a better life”.

He added: “I can see such a bright future for Britain and I want to lead you on a journey to that place.”

Today’s poll is the second weekly insight into voters’ intentions for the Daily Express from polling firm ­Opinium. The survey gives the Tories a 39 per cent share of the vote, up two per cent on last week. Labour’s share has dropped by two per cent to 28 while the Lib Dems remain unchanged on 16 per cent.

That would give the Tories a 40-seat majority in the House of Commons, according to the political website ­Electoral Calculus. The apparent shift in mood follows warnings of widespread disruption to holidays because of a threatened strike at British Airways.

Unite, the trade union at the centre of the dispute, has close links with Labour.

And admissions by ministers that next week’s Budget will give little indication of how massive Government borrowing will be cut have also undermined Labour’s credibility.

The Opinium research will help calm concern within Mr Cameron’s inner ­circle, fearful that their substantial poll lead last year had been eroded.

Senior Conservative aides had been ­increasingly concerned about the party’s stuttering performance this year.

It may also dampen speculation that Britain is heading for a hung Parliament for the first time since the Seventies.

But the poll does confirm Tory worries that their party is failing to gain ground in the North.

Labour retain a five per cent lead in northern constituencies with a 36 per cent vote share, compared with 31 per cent for the Tories.

In contrast, the poll suggests the Tories have the support of 47 per cent of voters in the South and East.

And the poll suggests Conservative support is crossing the class divide despite Labour attempts to fight a “class war” election.

The Tories have a six per cent lead over Labour in the C2DE social classes, including many average and low-income households.

In an upbeat speech at a rally in east London last night, Mr Cameron told ­supporters: “There’s so much that’s great about Britain today. We need new energy to make the most of all this opportunity, so people aren’t held back by a tired government and its debts.”

Mr Cameron said the country could achieve new levels of prosperity as long as the Treasury’s debt is cut quickly.

And he savaged Labour for “putting the recovery at risk” by failing to detail how the borrowing will be reduced.

He said: “Sticking with Brown is ­settling for second best and Britain could be so much better. Under Brown it’s not moving, it’s not happening. Every day is a grey day. We need new energy to get Britain moving.”

A second opinion poll last night appeared to confirm the Tory revival. An ICM poll for The Guardian gave the Tories a nine per cent lead over Labour. It put the Tories on 40 per cent, an increase of three from the previous ICM poll. Labour was given 31 per cent and the Lib Dems were on 20 per cent.