Voter confidence in the economy has slumped lower than during 1979's winter of discontent.

A poll today revealed three quarters of the public think things will get worse over the next year, six points more than a month ago. The finding, from Ipsos/Mori, came as one of the Prime Minister's closest Cabinet allies admitted that the squeeze would hurt even more

Ed Balls said: "It's going to get tougher before it gets easier. Higher gas and electricity bills will have an impact through the autumn and, as you get closer to the winter, this will become more of an issue."

He told The Independent the problems stemmed from "a set of economic events that have not come together since the Seventies" but that Labour's own mistakes, such as the 10p tax band abolition, had made the political fall-out worse. In 10 months, a 29-point Labour lead on economic competence has been reversed, with the Conservatives now ahead by 16 points on the key issue.

Ipsos/Mori said the Tories had a 20-point lead over Labour among those certain to vote, by 47 to 27 per cent, with the Lib-Dems on

15. Mr Brown faces a test of his government's popularity tomorrow in the Glasgow East by-election.

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