A new opinion poll shows that support for the ruling Labor party has slumped to a record low only three days before Prime Minister Gordon Brown faces a tough parliamentary test, The Sunday Telegraph reported Sunday.
An survey by ICM for The Sunday Telegraph puts the opposition Tories (Conservatives) on 42 percent, 16 points ahead of Labor's 26 percent, the lowest figure the party has recorded in any poll by the survey company, the daily said.
Labor recorded 40 percent in a poll shortly after Brown became prime minister last June.
The survey shows Labor are even only five points ahead of the opposition Liberal Democrats who are on 21 percent, according to the paper.
Brown faces a rebellion by up to 50 Labor members of parliament (MPs) in a Commons vote on Wednesday on plans to increase from 28 to 42 days the time terrorist suspects can be held without charge.
The daily said that despite a series of concessions by ministers and a letter from the prime minister, most rebels contacted by The Telegraph Saturday held firm, raising the possibility of a humiliating defeat for the Labor leader.
Brown was quoted by the paper as saying in the letter to every Labor MP: "With terrorists using new technology, as well as multiple identities to cover their tracks, and with investigations often involving countries where cooperation is not easy, it is unarguably true that the amount of time it takes to properly investigate a case before charges can be brought has increased very significantly."
The Sunday Telegraph said that it found little evidence that Labor rebels are ready to change their minds and most opponents cited civil liberty concerns despite Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had an impassioned plea for support last week.
However, the survey provides some good news for Brown as 65 percent of those questioned support his 42-day plan, with backing coming from voters across the political spectrum. Thirty percent think the limit should stay at 28 days, the position favored by the Conservatives.
The daily pointed out that despite voters' strong support for Labour's flagship anti-terrorism proposals, they do not give the party political credit for making them.
In the survey, asked which of the two main parties they believed had the "tougher" policies to fight terrorism, voters put the Tories four points ahead, the report said.
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