Only Tony Blair's return as Labour leader would slash Tory lead, says new survey

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The survey suggested that the former Prime Minister was the only senior figure capable of turning around the party's ailing fortunes.

The poll by ComRes for the Independent newspaper found that none of those currently touted as leadership contenders would improve Labour's prospects.

A new poll claims the Conservative lead would be slashed if Tony Blair (l) returned to take over the Labour leadership from Gordon Brown (r)

Mr Blair stood down last year and resigned as an MP, so his appearance in the poll will be dismissed as political mischief.

But it will remind MPs that Mr Brown has presided over a calamitous drop in the party's popularity.

The poll puts the Tories on 44 per cent, down two points, Labour on 25 per cent, up one point, and the Lib Dems down one point on 17 per cent.

If Mr Blair was in charge the Tory lead would drop to 10 points, giving them a projected Commons majority of just 20 rather than 182. With David Miliband or Jack Straw in charge, Labour would stay on 25 per cent.

But if Alan Johnson, Harriet Harman or Ed Balls led the party, its standing would drop still further.