Economic confidence 'at record low'

Despite Gordon Brown's attempts to reassure the public that the UK will weather the storm, 75% expect things to get worse over the next year - six points down on last month alone. And the latest figures from Ipsos Mori contain still worse news for the Prime Minister, with far more now believing the nation's finances would be safer in Tory hands.

In just 10 months, a 29-point Labour lead on economic competence has been stunningly reversed, with David Cameron's Opposition now ahead by 16 points on the key issue (37% to 21%).

And that is reflected in voting intentions, where the Conservatives have a 20-point lead over Labour among those certain to vote by 47% to 27% with the Liberal Democrats on 15%.

Mr Brown faces an immediate test of his Government's popularity on Thursday in the Glasgow East by-election, where Labour is locked in battle with the Scottish National Party. But the latest figures show the biggest gap between the voters who are unhappy and happy with government performance since the worst days of John Major's government in August 1996.

More than three quarters (77%) of those questioned by Ipsos Mori this month declared themselves dissatisfied with the way the country was being run, with less than one in five (18%) happy.

Labour supporters are significantly unhappy with the PM's performance as well, 43% expressing dissatisfaction and, despite his insistence that Britain's woes are caused by external influences, most voters (58%) disagree that he is "doing a good job in difficult circumstances".

Amid continued speculation over a possible leadership challenge, half of voters think he should quit now, with one in five saying that they like Labour but not its present leader.

Mr Cameron - who has the approval of half of voters for the job he is doing - suffers the reverse problem, with more liking him (47%) than his party (43%). And despite the party's consistent poll leads, he still has work to do to convince the electorate that he is ready for power, with voters split equally (44% each way) on the question.

Just less than a third (32%) are satisfied with Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and a quarter (23%) dissatisfied - meaning almost half do not have an opinion either way.