Cameron edges out Brown as preferred PM in latest poll

David Cameron's new aggressive campaign against Gordon Brown appears to be paying off. A poll claims the Chancellor had fallen in the ratings and the Tory leader had moved decisively ahead as the voters' choice for prime minister. As the Tories raised the temperature of their attacks, shadow chancellor George Osborne yesterday claimed the Chancellor was branded "effing awful" by Cabinet colleague John Hutton, while a large turnout of Tory MPs barracked Labour.

According to a YouGov poll in the Daily Telegraph, just 33 per cent would choose Mr Brown, down from 46 per cent last November.

At the same time, Mr Cameron's rating had shot up to 46 per cent from 37 per cent.

The survey puts the Tories ahead by seven points, at 39 per cent to Labour's 32 per cent and the Lib-Dems' 16 per cent.

If YouGov is right, Mr Cameron is on course to be the leader of the biggest party in Parliament after the next general election but may not get an overall majority.

To gain a working majority, most experts say his party needs more than 40 per cent in the polls.